A Short Report on the Lack of a Pyrogenic Response of Australian Genomic Group IV Isolates of <i>Coxiella burnetii</i> in Guinea Pigs

Abstract

This small study reports on a non-pyrogenic response of five different Australian isolates of Coxiella burnetii (C. burnetii). They were all members of Genomic Group IV and obtained from three cases of acute human infection, one case of chronic human infection and one case of goat abortion. The guinea pigs infected with these isolates did not develop fever (temperature ≥ 40.0 °C), which is consistent with other members of this genomic group that were isolated from elsewhere in the world. In contrast, guinea pigs infected with the classical USA tick isolate, Nine Mile phase 1 (RSA 493) of Genomic Group I, experienced a four-day febrile period.

Keywords

• <i>C. burnetii</i>
• Q fever
• Australia
• pyrogenicity
• guinea pigs