Q Fever

 
What is Q fever?
Q fever is an infectious disease caused by Coxiella burnetii which naturally infects some animals, including cattle, sheep, and goats.  It can cause abortion, stillbirth and/or weakened newborn animals.
 
How is Q fever transmitted?
Q fever can be transmitted through body fluids including afterbirth, urine, milk, fecal matter and dried manure dust.
 
What are the signs of infection?
Most animals do not show any signs of infection.  Abortions, especially late-term, are the most common indication that sheep and goats could be infected.
 
What are the testing requirements for Q fever?
There is no mandatory testing requirement for Q fever.
 
Where can I get my animals tested?
Contact your veterinarian to schedule sample collection, or collect your own samples.  Samples should be submitted to the Animal Health Lab, which can run individual or pooled milk samples.
 
What can I do to prevent Q fever?
After bordering states had an outbreak of Q fever in 2011, ISDA developed some information about the disease which contains basic recommendations for prevention.  These include disinfecting clothing worn where animals have recently birthed prior to returning home or visiting another facility, and proper disposal of placentas, soiled bedding, and aborted fetuses. Routine sanitation of all livestock facilities such as the milking parlor, holding pens and birthing pens as well as proper disposal of waste products is good biosecurity.
 
Q fever is a reportable disease in Idaho.
 
For concerns regarding Q fever in humans, please visit the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website.
 
If you have a question that is not covered here, please contact Animal Industries by email or at (208) 332-8540.