Poker Players' Pneumonia

Abstract

Q FEVER, a zoonosis caused by the rickettsia Coxiella burnetii, is endemic in many parts of the world. Cattle, sheep, and goats are the primary animal reservoirs of infection.1 Humans become infected after inhalation of aerosols contaminated by C. burnetii.1 In Nova Scotia, Q fever is endemic in rural areas, accounting for up to 20 percent of cases of community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization.2 Q fever has been associated with exposure to products of feline parturition3 and with skinning wild rabbits.4 We report an outbreak of Q fever that occurred between March 5 and 16, 1987, among 12 adult . . .