Q fever in intensively managed dairy goats: Transmission dynamics, production losses and control interventions

Abstract

Q fever is a zoonotic disease with a significant impact on public health worldwide. It is caused by the highly infectious bacterium Coxiella burnetii. In humans, Q fever typically manifests as a self-limiting febrile syndrome. C. burnetii infection can also lead to chronic disease presentations and be life-threatening for individuals with underlying risk factors. Australia ranks among the countries with the highest Q fever report rates. Livestock species are the main source of infection for humans and dairy goats have been linked to some of the largest Q fever outbreaks recorded in recent times. In Victoria, Australia, a Q fever outbreak linked to a large dairy goat enterprise occurred in 2..