Use

Q fever, a rickettsial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii, has been recognized as a widely distributed zoonosis with the potential for causing both sporadic and epidemic disease. This test is used for diagnosing Coxiella burnetii, the causative agent of Q fever. The resistance of C. burnetii to heat, chemical agents, and desiccation allows the agent to survive for extended periods outside the host. C. burnetii is spread by the inhalation of infected material, largely from dried sheep and goat reproductive material; the organism is also shed in feces, milk, nasal discharge, placental tissue, and amniotic fluid from ruminant animals. The clinical spectrum of disease ranges from unapparent to fatal. Respiratory manifestations usually predominate; endocarditis and hepatitis can be complications.