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Characteristics
Morphology Gram negative proteobacteria, pleomorphic, spore forming and is an obligate intracellular pathogen.
Disease

C. burnetii is the causative agent of Q. fever. Infection begins in the lung alveoli. It does not normally cause disease in its animal hosts, but can cause miscarriage in livestock.
Zoonosis

Yes.
Health Hazards
Host Range Humans and many different wild and domestic animals.
Modes of Transmission
Occurs mainly via inhalation of contaminated aerosols from amniotic fluid, placenta, or contaminated wool from farm animals, through direct or indirect contact with infected animals and their dried excreta, contaminated hides, straw, fertilizer, and laundry of exposed persons.
Signs and Symptoms 

Acute Q fever: Presentation varies considerably; typically self-limited flu-like illness, atypical pneumonia, and hepatitis. Chronic Q fever: endocarditis, characterized by fever, hepatitis, weight loss, stroke, or heart failure.
Infectious Dose Approximately 1-10 organisms.
Incubation Period  13-28 days if acquired through respiratory route. 24-48 hours in people who have accidently inoculated themselves.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis
None.
Vaccines
Q-vax vaccine is used in Australia.
Treatment Doxycycline, hydroxychloroquine.
Surveillance
Presence of clinical symptoms; direct detection of antigen; serological tests.
MSU Requirements
Report any exposures.
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
Accounted for the highest number of rickettsia laboratory infections. 278 cases were reported up to 1976 with 1 death.
 Sources
Infected arthropods, blood, urine, feces, milk, yolk sac suspensions, contaminated laundry and clothing, naturally or experimentally infected animals, and tissues of humans or other hosts.
Supplemental References
BMBL
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/bmbl/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
NIH Guidelines
https://osp.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/NIH_Guidelines.pdf
CDC
 http://www.cdc.gov/qfever/
Canada PSDS
 http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/index-eng.php
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures utilizing infected animals infected with Coxiella burnetii.
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
Susceptible to 5 % Micro-Chem, 70 % ethanol, and 10 % formalin.
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (15 minutes at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC).
Survival Outside Host
Survives in soil, contaminated buildings, food and fomites for years.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.