COXIELLA
BACTERIOLOGY
Coxiella
burnetii, the cause ofQ
fever,has morphologic features similar to those of rick-ettsiae but differs
in DNA composition and a number of other features. Phase variation of surface
polysaccharide in response to environmental conditions has been observed and
linked to virulence. The organism is taken into host cells by a phagocytic
process that in contrast to rickettsiae does not involve expenditure of energy
by the parasite. It multiplies in the phagolysosome primarily because it is
adapted to growth at low pH and resists lysoso-mal enzymes. C. burnetii is much more resistant to
drying and other environmental condi-tions than rickettsiae, which
substantially accounts for its ability to produce infection by the respiratory
route.
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