Q fever: Current diagnosis and treatment options

Q fever is a zoonotic disease caused by the ubiquitous pathogen Coxiella burnetii responsible for acute and chronic clinical manifestations. Its geographically heterogeneous prevalence seems mainly related to the clinician interest and the availability of a reference center. Its polymorphic clinical expression imposes reference to diagnosis in presence of pneumonia, hepatitis. prolonged fever or endocarditis with no proof of its etiology. The diagnosis is mainly serological. If acute Q fever is most often benign, endocarditis is constantly fatal Without treatment. The treatment is effective and well tolerated, but must be adapted to the acute or chronic pattern, the presence of a heart valve disease, an aneurysm or a vascular prosthesis, an immunodeficiency and the specific problem of pregnancy. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.