Q fever outbreak in an experimental wildlife breeding station in Uruguay

Abstract

An outbreak of Q fever was reported during 2003-2004 in the Experimental Wildlife Breeding
Station Department of Maldonado-Uruguay. A descriptive epidemiological investigation and nested
case-control were conducted to identify factors associated with occurrence of Q fever (reservoir;
animal’s habitats and risk related to working activities) Seroepidemiological survey in humans and
in the suspect animals were carried out.
117 workers were studied. Q fever was confirmed in 25 cases, (prevalence of 21.37%, 95% IC: 14.3-
29.9). The outbreak may have been caused by aerosolization of Coxiella burnetii whilst carrying
out grass mowing (OR: 10.91, 95% CI: 3.61-34.08). The field deer, Ozotoceros bezoarticus, was
identified as the reservoir of the infective agent though the participation of other species was not
ruled out.