Q fever epidemiology in domestic small ruminants

Abstract

The small ruminants are considered as main reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii for humans and animals. Domestic sheep and goats have been implied in many human Q fever outbreaks. Thus, the knowledge of the epidemiological role of domestic small ruminants seems to be essential to control the disease in the flocks and to avoid dissemination of the bacterium. In those infected flocks the disease is mainly transmitted by close contact among animals, their secretions, the consumption of contaminated fodder, the inhalation of airborne particle, or by rats and tick bites. Molecular characterization of C. burnetii is allowing a better understanding of the relationships among the different elements involved in the Q fever epidemiology, in which small ruminants would play a fundamental role. The present chapter supposes an updated review regarding Q fever in domestic small rumiants, particularly in those epidemiological aspects that place these animals as a central key in the main human and animal outbreaks occurred until now.