Research Article: Increased recognition of Q fever aortitis as a chronic manifestation of Q fever in tropical North Queensland, Australia
Abstract:
Aortitis is a life-threatening, manifestation of chronic Q fever. We report a series of 5 patients with Q fever aortitis who have presented to our hospital in tropical Australia since 2019. All diagnoses were confirmed with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of aortic tissue. Only one had a previous diagnosis of acute Q fever, and none had classical high-risk exposures that might increase clinical suspicion for the infection. All patients underwent surgery: one died and 3 had significant complications. Q fever aortitis may be underdiagnosed; clinicians should consider testing for Coxiella burnetii in people with aortic pathology in endemic areas.
Introduction:
Q fever — caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii — is a zoonotic infection with a worldwide distribution. Over half of acute Q fever infections are subclinical while symptomatic acute infections usually present as an influenza-like illness [1]. This non-specific presentation — combined with many clinicians’ limited awareness of the disease — means that acute Q fever is likely to be underrecognised, particularly if it occurs in people without classical recreational or occupational risk…
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