SynthesisBMC infectious diseases2018
Airborne geographical dispersal of Q fever from livestock holdings to human communities: a systematic review and critical appraisal of evidence.
Synthesis in BMC infectious diseases, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 84 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
84 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Cholecystitis associated with Q fever: case report and systematic review.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2025Pooled it
- Surveillance forOne health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2026Article
- Seroprevalence of Q-fever among domestic ruminants, humans and ticks in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Veterinary and animal science · 2026Review
- Wild Boar and Red Deer as Key Players in Coxiella Burnetii Circulation in the Wildlife-Livestock-Human Interface: Serological Analysis Using a Gaussian Mixture Model.Animals : an open access journal from MDPI · 2026Article
- Efficacy of Inhalational Ciprofloxacin (Apulmiq) in an NHP Model of Q Fever.Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Serological Evidence of WidespreadVeterinary sciences · 2026Article
- Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Environmental Correlates ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Surveillance of Q Fever in Dairy Cattle in Latvia: Molecular and Serological Findings and Association with Farm and Woodland Density.Microorganisms · 2026Article
- Benchmarking Q fever transmission in czech republic and serbia: A one health sub-national population study.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Molecular and Serological Detection of Coxiella burnetii in Small Ruminants in Northeastern Brazil.Veterinary medicine and science · 2026Article
- Prevalence and risk factors of neglected zoonoses in Ethiopian small ruminants: a focus on Q fever, brucellosis, chlamydiosis, and toxoplasmosis.One health outlook · 2026Article
- Article
- Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in vaginal and rectal swab samples of small ruminants from Kermanshah Province, western Iran.BMC veterinary research · 2026Article
- Acute Q Fever After Diabetic Ketoacidosis Correction: Repeated Blood Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing and Antimicrobial De-Escalation.Infection and drug resistance · 2026Article
- Molecular characterization ofFrontiers in veterinary science · 2026Article
- Environmental risk factors of human Q fever in Spain.One health (Amsterdam, Netherlands) · 2025Article
- Combination of serology and PCR analysis of environmental samples to assessApplied and environmental microbiology · 2025Article
- Coxiella burnetii and HIV infection in people experiencing homelessness.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- A Note on the Association Between Climatological Conditions and the Presence ofPathogens (Basel, Switzerland) · 2025Article
- Pathogen-driven pregnancy loss in dairy cattle: An overview of diagnostic advances and innovations.Open veterinary journal · 2025Review
24 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
2 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundQ fever is a zoonotic disease caused by Coxiella burnetii. This bacterium survives harsh conditions and attaches to dust, suggesting environmental dispersal is a risk factor for outbreaks. Spatial epidemiology studies collating evidence on Q fever geographical contamination gradients are needed, as human cases without occupational exposure are increasing worldwide.
methodsWe used a systematic literature search to assess the role of distance from ruminant holdings as a risk factor for human Q fever outbreaks. We also collated evidence for other putative drivers of C. burnetii geographical dispersal.
resultsIn all documented outbreaks, infective sheep or goats, not cattle, was the likely source. Evidence suggests a prominent role of airborne dispersal; Coxiella burnetii travels up to 18 km on gale force winds. In rural areas, highest infection risk occurs within 5 km of sources. Urban outbreaks generally occur over smaller distances, though evidence on attack rate gradients is limited. Wind speed / direction, spreading of animal products, and stocking density may all contribute to C. burnetii environmental gradients.
conclusionsQ fever environmental gradients depend on urbanization level, ruminant species, stocking density and wind speed. While more research is needed, evidence suggests that residential exclusion zones around holdings may be inadequate to contain this zoonotic disease, and should be species-specific.
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