Abstract
Transmission by the oral route of Coxiella burnetii is controversial. Our objective was to evaluate dairy products in the transmission of Q fever. Pasteurized, unpasteurized, and thermized dairy products were tested for C. burnetii by using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction specific for IS1111 and IS30A spacers, culturing in human embryonic lung fibroblasts cells, and inoculation into BALB/c mice. We tested 201 products and C. burnetii was identified in 64%. Cow milk origin products were more frequently positive than goat or ewe products (P = 0.006 and P = 0.0001, respectively), and industrial food was more frequently positive than artisanal food (P < 0.0001). Food made from unpasteurized milk contained higher bacteria concentrations than food made from pasteurized milk (P = 0.02). All cultures were negative and mice did not show signs of illness. Farm animals are highly infected in France but consumption of cheese and yogurt does not seem to pose a public health risk for transmission of Q fever.