An important carrier of the bacteria that cause Q fever are alluvial ticks. In the wild, the bacteria(Coxiella burnetii) circulate between wild mammals, birds and ticks. In spring and autumn, adult alluvial ticks also infest farm animals such as sheep, goats and cattle.
A classic route of infection for animals and humans is transmission of the bacteria through tick faeces, e.g. in sheep's wool from infected or uninfected animals. The pathogens that cause Q fever are highly resistant to chemical and physical influences, such as UV radiation, increased temperature and dehydration. They can form permanent forms in the form of spores that can survive for years in dust, hay, wool, etc.
