Q-fever caused spontaneous abortion
Nielsen, S.Y.; Mølbak, K.år.; Hjøllund, N.H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 173(34): 2053-2054
2011
ISSN/ISBN: 1603-6824 PMID: 21867662 Document Number: 655839
Q-fever is a zoonotic infection. Pregnant women constitute a specific risk group as the infection may cause spontaneous abortion, intrauterine death, growth retardation, oligohydramnios and premature birth. A 39 year-old veterinarian had a spontaneous abortion in pregnancy week seven. During the first weeks of her pregnancy, she handled birth by-products from cows with Q-fever. The Q-fever titres revealed that she was most likely infected in very early pregnancy. According to the literature, infection in the first trimester constitutes a specific risk of spontaneous abortion.