Abstract
Wild animals are recognized as important reservoirs of Coxiella burnetii, the bacterium that causes Q fever, with significant zoonotic potential. Among the wild hosts of C. burnetti are birds (such as pigeons, waterfowl and birds of prey), mammals (including ruminants, rodents, cervids, wild boars, seals and sea lions), reptiles (turtles and snakes) and bats. Its transmission occurs mainl…