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:*Phase II: characterized by rough [[lipopolysaccharide]] capsule and [[antibodies]] against phase II have been isolated from chronic Q fever patients.
:*Phase II: characterized by rough [[lipopolysaccharide]] capsule and [[antibodies]] against phase II have been isolated from chronic Q fever patients.


* There is a delay between the entry of the organism into the host cell and the fusion with lysosomes. This delay is thought to be due to the transform from the small cell variant into the large cell variant.
* There is a delay between the entry of the [[organism]] into the host cell and the fusion with [[lysosomes]]. This delay is thought to be due to the transform from the small cell variant into the large cell variant.
* The acidic environment inside the lysosome has a little effect on the large cell form of the organism.
* The [[acidic]] environment inside the [[lysosome]] has a little effect on the large cell form of the organism.
====Virulence factors====
====Virulence factors====


*Lipopolysaccharide capsule is one of the most important virulence factors of the organism.
*[[Lipopolysaccharide]] capsule is one of the most important [[virulence factor]] of the organism.


*The different phases of infection is associated with changes in the polysaccharide capsule.
*The different phases of infection is associated with changes in the [[lipopolysaccharide]] capsule.
:*Lipopolysaccharide phase I (smooth polysaccharide) is associated with protection against the host immune response
:*[[Lipopolysaccharide|Lipopolysaccharide phase I]] (smooth polysaccharide) is associated with protection against the host [[immune response]]
:*Lipopolysaccharide phase 2 (rough) is isolated from avirulent non infectious host cells and is not associated with protection of the virus from the host cell.
:*[[Lipopolysaccharide|Lipopolysaccharide phase 2]] (rough) is isolated from avirulent non infectious host cells and is not associated with protection of the virus from the host cell.


*Both humoral and cell mediated immunity are involved in the immune response against C.brutenii. However, cell mediated immunity is more important in the defense against the organism and people with deficient cell mediated immunity is more susceptible develop chronic infection.
*Both [[Humoral immunity|humoral]] and [[cell mediated immunity]] are involved in the immune response against ''[[Coxiella burnetii|C.burnetii]]''. However, [[cell mediated immunity]] is more important in the defense against the organism and people with [[Immunosuppression|deficient cell mediated immunity]] is more susceptible develop chronic infection.


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

Revision as of 14:33, 30 July 2017


Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Ahmed Younes M.B.B.CH [2]

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Overview

Q fever is a disease caused by C.burnetii, an intracellular gram-negative proteobacterium. 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
  • tick bites

Pathogenesis

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

Small cell form[2]

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

Large cell form

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

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

  • Phase I: characterized by smooth lipopolysaccharide capsule. Despite being less efficient in the invasion of host cells, antibodies against phase I is always isolated from acute Q fever patients.
  • Phase II: characterized by rough lipopolysaccharide capsule and antibodies against phase II have been isolated from chronic Q fever patients.
  • There is a delay between the entry of the organism into the host cell and the fusion with lysosomes. This delay is thought to be due to the transform from the small cell variant into the large cell variant.
  • The acidic environment inside the lysosome has a little effect on the large cell form of the organism.

Virulence factors

  • The different phases of infection is associated with changes in the lipopolysaccharide capsule.

Q fever as a biological weapon

  • Because of its route of infection it can be used as a biological warfare agent.
  • Q-fever is category "B" agent. It is highly contagious and very stable in aerosols in a wide range of temperatures.
  • Just 1-2 particles are enough to infect an individual.
  • Q-fever microorganisms may survive on surfaces up to 60 days (like sporulating bacteria).
  • According to WHO estimates[4], an amount of 50 kg of C. burnetii 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

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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