What is Q Fever?
Q Fever is a highly contagious zoonosis, that also has a strong negative impact on the health and reproductive performance of ruminant herds. ...
How a farm becomes infected?
Coxiella Burnetti is highly infectious and highly contagious. The bacteria, due to its small size, can travel up to 18 kilometres with the wind, transmitting the disease from an infected farm to a healthy one.
Additionally, a farm can become infected through the introduction of an animal already contaminated with C. burnetii. This infected animal, through excretion of the bacteria in vaginal discharge, parturition products and faeces, will contaminate the environment and then, via airborne spread, transmit the disease to healthy animals.
When to suspect of Q Fever?
The main Q Fever symptoms in ruminants are reproductive disorders, including abortions, stillbirths, and infertility. A recent and unexplained degradation of the reproductive performances of the herd that manifest with an elevated number of retained placenta, metritis difficult to treat and poor fertility certainly warrants a Q fever diagnostic investigation. In goats, acute Q fever will often manifest as the main causes of abortion storms in the flock.
How can I confirm that a farm is infected?
The Q Fever diagnosis can be quite challenging, as the clinical signs are unspecific. In an effort to simplify the diagnosis and build awareness on this dangerous disease, Ceva’s ruminant team has developed a new diagnostic tool for Q Fever, the QTest.
Prevention is key
Q Fever vaccination is crucial. Coxevac ...
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An effective and practical way to diagnose Q Fever in dairy herds
This tool offers a breakthrough innovation to farmers and veterinarians, by making the Q Fever diagnosis easier. The QTest uses bulk tank milk as sample matrix and is based on the use of the established FTA® technology, that fixates and inactivates the bacteria on sample collection cards, making it ready to be sent safely by conventional post mail without the need to refrigerate.
