Changes

Worldwide except for New Zealand.

Worldwide except for New Zealand.

C. burnetii is transmitted by many species of '''[[Ticks \ tick]]''', including  ''Amblyomma spp, Ixodes spp.'' and ''Dermacentor spp''.  it has two interacting cycles of development involving small and large cell variants. Both are infectious.

C. burnetii is transmitted by many species of '''[[Ticks | tick]]''', including  ''Amblyomma spp, Ixodes spp.'' and ''Dermacentor spp''.  it has two interacting cycles of development involving small and large cell variants. Both are infectious.

Organisms can survive for '''long periods outside of a host'''; >586 days in tick faeces and months or years in the environment.

Organisms can survive for '''long periods outside of a host'''; >586 days in tick faeces and months or years in the environment.

Sexual transmission of Q fever has also been reported.

Sexual transmission of Q fever has also been reported.

==Signalment==

==Signalment==

'''Cattle, goats and sheep''' are the primary domestic reservoir for Q fever. Infected animals shed the pathogen in their '''urine, faeces, milk and birth materials'''. Infected cattle may become carriers of infection, with the agent localised in the mammary glands.

'''Cattle, goats and sheep''' are the primary domestic reservoir for Q fever. Infected animals shed the pathogen in their '''urine, faeces, milk and birth materials'''. Infected cattle may become carriers of infection, with the agent localised in the mammary glands.