Q fever pathophysiology: Difference between revisions

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Large cell form persists in the macrophages inside acidic vacuoles.
Large cell form persists in the macrophages inside acidic vacuoles.
   
   
Small and large cell forms are antigenically different and this plays a role in the virulence of the organism.
*Small and large cell forms are antigenically different and this plays a role in the virulence of the organism.
The genome of C. Brutenii has been analysed in 1995. Multiple genes encoding for Na/ ion proton exchanger have been discovered and this explains the ability of the organism to survive in low PH.
*The genome of C. Brutenii has been analysed in 1995. Multiple genes encoding for Na/ ion proton exchanger have been discovered and this explains the ability of the organism to survive in low PH.
   
   
The infection has 2 phases that correlate with changes in the lipopolysaccharide of C. Brutenii:<ref name="pmid1489455">{{cite journal |vauthors=Choyce DP |title=Anterior chamber lens exchange |journal=J Cataract Refract Surg |volume=18 |issue=5 |pages=537 |year=1992 |pmid=1489455 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
The infection has 2 phases that correlate with changes in the lipopolysaccharide of C. Brutenii:<ref name="pmid1489455">{{cite journal |vauthors=Choyce DP |title=Anterior chamber lens exchange |journal=J Cataract Refract Surg |volume=18 |issue=5 |pages=537 |year=1992 |pmid=1489455 |doi= |url=}}</ref>
*Phase I: characterized by smooth lipopolysacharide capsule. Despite being less efficient in invasion of host cells, antibodies against phase I is always isolated  from acute Q fever patients.  
**Phase I: characterized by smooth lipopolysacharide capsule. Despite being less efficient in invasion of host cells, antibodies against phase I is always isolated  from acute Q fever patients.  
*Phase II: characterized by rough lipopolysacharide capsule and antibodies against phase II have been isolated from chronic Q fever patients.
**Phase II: characterized by rough lipopolysacharide capsule and antibodies against phase II have been isolated from chronic Q fever patients.


===Q fever as a biological weapon:===
===Q fever as a biological weapon:===

Revision as of 17:26, 8 June 2017

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Overview

Q fever is a disease caused by C. brutenii, an intracellular gram negative bacterium. The disease can have a wide range of clinical presentations and affect many organ systems due to the unique virulence factors of the organism.

Pathophysiology

Transmission:

The organism is transmitted through:[1]

  • Aerosoloes: Inhalation of contaminated aerosoles is the main mode of transmission.
  • Ingestion of raw dairy products
  • Vertical (mother to fetus) transmission has been reported
  • Parentral
  • Through tick bites

Pathogenesis:

C. Brutenii has the ability to exist in 2 forms:

Small cell form:[2]

Often described as the spore form of C. Brutenii Resists the external environmental factors as heat, pressure and dissinfectants for long periods

Large cell form:

The active form of the organism Large cell form persists in the macrophages inside acidic vacuoles.

  • Small and large cell forms are antigenically different and this plays a role in the virulence of the organism.
  • The genome of C. Brutenii has been analysed in 1995. Multiple genes encoding for Na/ ion proton exchanger have been discovered and this explains the ability of the organism to survive in low PH.

The infection has 2 phases that correlate with changes in the lipopolysaccharide of C. Brutenii:[3]

    • Phase I: characterized by smooth lipopolysacharide capsule. Despite being less efficient in invasion of host cells, antibodies against phase I is always isolated from acute Q fever patients.
    • Phase II: characterized by rough lipopolysacharide capsule and antibodies against phase II have been isolated from chronic Q fever patients.

Q fever as a biological weapon:

C. Brutenii is an extremely virulent organism.

According to WHO estimates[4], an amount of 50 kg of C. Brutenii if spread in an area of 2 square kilometers is capable of:

  • Infecting 500,000 humans
  • Killing 150 individuals
  • Causing acute illness in 125,000 individuals
  • Causing chronic illness in 9,000 individuals

Microscopic pathology:

  • C. Brutenii is a gram negative polymorphic intracellular organism.[5]
  • It was previously classified as a ricketsia, but now is considered a proteobacterium.
Coxiella brutenii
Immunohistochemical detection of Coxiella burnetii in resected cardiac valve of a 60-year-old man with Q fever - By Mahamat A, Edouard S, Demar M, Abboud P, Patrice J-Y, La Scola B, et al. -Public domain-, via Wikime

References

  1. Marrie TJ (1990). "Q fever - a review". Can. Vet. J. 31 (8): 555–63. PMC 1480833. PMID 17423643.
  2. "Diagnosis of Q Fever".
  3. Choyce DP (1992). "Anterior chamber lens exchange". J Cataract Refract Surg. 18 (5): 537. PMID 1489455.
  4. "apps.who.int" (PDF).
  5. "Q Fever on JSTOR".


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