Cattle Submission Form
Goat Submission Form
Sheep Submission Form

Query or Queensland Fever (Q fever) is a disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii. This bacteria naturally infects goats, sheep, and cattle. The infection is usually subclinical, but can cause abortions, still births, or birth of weak offspring. It is also a zoonosis, a disease of animals that can infect humans.

C. burnetii bacteria are found in the birth products (i.e. placenta, amniotic fluid), urine, feces, and milk of infected animals. Susceptible animals can get infected by breathing in dust that has been contaminated by infected animal feces, urine, milk, and birth products. In addition, Q fever can be spread by ticks which pass the bacteria from an infected to a susceptible animal. Since it is also shed in the milk of an infected animal, it can be contracted by drinking non pasteurized infected milk.

The ELISA test detects antibodies to anti-Coxiella burnetti antibodies in serum of cattle, goats and sheep. Researchers found the test to be highly specific (>98%) for all three species. Their results for sensitivity for cattle, goats and sheep were 83, 92, and 89%, respectively.

Submitting samples for Q fever testing is easy.  Just mail or drop-off 2 mL of clotted blood or 1 mL of serum, submission form and payment.  Please collect blood in red or tiger (grey and red) topped blood collection tubes. Check out our store; for the proper collection supplies.

The Q fever test is ran every Thursday with results reporting Friday. Please download the submission form if you are interested in fast, accurate Q fever testing. The price is just $7.00 per sample.