FieldDxCoxiellosisClinical signs, differential diagnosis, treatment and prevention in cattle, goats and sheep.
Overview
A bacterial infection of ruminants, usually subclinical in animals but a significant human zoonosis, especially around birthing. Coxiella burnetii, shed in birth fluids, placenta, milk, urine and feces; highly resistant environmentally and can spread by windborne dust. Zoonotic: this condition can pass to people.
Clinical signs
- Abortion (typically does not occur at successive pregnancies, but there can be recrudescence of infection and excretion in subsequent gestations)
- Goats excrete the organism in vaginal discharges for up to 2 weeks, in milk for up to 52 days after kidding, and also in feces.
Predisposing factors
- Occurrence The organism has worldwide distribution, although serologic surveys have found no evidence of infection in New Zealand. C.
Treatment
There is no specific treatment against the virus. In outbreaks of respiratory disease, mortality can be reduced by ensuring that the environmental conditions in the barns and pens are adequate, the stocking density is kept low, and the…
Prevention
The organism strongly adheres to the zona pellucida and is not removed by standard washing procedures, meaning the possibility of transfer of C. burnetii by embryo transfer cannot be ruled out.
Source
A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs and Goat by ELSEVIER — Coxiellosis (Q-Fever)
A Textbook of the Diseases of Cattle, Horses, Sheep, Pigs and Goat by ELSEVIER (Page 1812)
MSD Veterinary Manual — Coxiellosis (accessed 2026-08-11)
Condensed and attributed, never reproduced whole. Open the full entry in the app.