How is human infection with the causative agent of Q fever most commonly acquired?

How is human infection with the causative agent of Q fever most commonly acquired?

• A. Inhalation of infectious material
• B. The bite of a mite (chigger)
• C. The bite of a body louse
• D. The bite of the arthropod Phlebotomus

Answer: (A)

Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, an organism that is highly infectious via the respiratory route. Humans most often become infected by inhaling aerosols contaminated with the bacteria, which are shed in the birth products, placenta, urine, feces, or milk of infected ruminants. These aerosols can be generated during parturition or handling of livestock, leading to inhalation being the most common route of human infection. While ingestion of unpasteurized dairy can occur, it's far less frequent. Transmission by bites from mites, body lice, or sandflies is not a typical route for Q fever.

Q fever is caused by Coxiella burnetii, an organism that is highly infectious via the respiratory route. Humans most often become infected by inhaling aerosols contaminated with the bacteria, which are shed in the birth products, placenta, urine, feces, or milk of infected ruminants. These aerosols can be generated during parturition or handling of livestock, leading to inhalation being the most common route of human infection. While ingestion of unpasteurized dairy can occur, it's far less frequent. Transmission by bites from mites, body lice, or sandflies is not a typical route for Q fever.