AANZ Export Working Group - Q Fever
NZ doesn’t have Q-Fever and that is why MPI needs to be sure that there is an accurate Q-Fever test for Camelids so it doesn’t enter NZ.
Australian exporters reported conflicting results with the ELISA and the CFT test for Q fever diagnosis and there was growing evidence that their sensitivity of the only two test options (CFT and ELISA) was not good enough for individual animal movement for camelids.
"Q fever is a widespread disease caused by the bacteria Coxiella burnetii, which can infect mammals, birds, reptiles and arthropods. It causes a mild disease in ruminants, but can cause abortions and still births in cattle, sheep, and goats. It is a zoonosis, a disease of animals that can infect humans. Q fever can be spread by ticks which pass the bacteria from an infected to susceptible animal, or contracted by drinking unpasteurised infected milk. First identified in Australia in 1935, Q fever has since been found worldwide, with the exception of New Zealand. Q fever is listed in the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code and Member Countries and Territories are obligated to report occurrences of the disease to the WOAH according to the WOAH Terrestrial Animal Health Code". Quoted from WOAH
Full details and the zoonotic implications are in the link below.
Q Fever - World Organisation for Animal Health
