A case of recurrent fever in an older man caused by Coxiella burnetii

Abstract

Q fever is a zoonosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii. While it is mostly an asymptomatic infection, acute disease can manifest as fever associated with signs of pneumonia or hepatitis. Chronic Q fever develops in 1-5% of infected persons. Patients with a history of cardiac valve surgery, vascular prosthesis or vascular aneurysm, and to a lesser extent patients with pre-existing valvular disease, immune deficiencies, or renal insufficiency, are at highest risk. Most common manifestations are Q fever endocarditis and Q fever vascular infection. We present a case of chronic Q fever, followed by a summary of available literature.

Keywords: Coxiella burnetii; Endocarditis; Q fever; Recurrent fever; Zoonosis.