Antibiotic usage in the absence of ongoing abortions with Coxiella burnetii is warranted.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only for pregnant animals

Answer: (B)

Antibiotic use for Coxiella burnetii is not indicated when there are no abortion events because controlling Q fever in herds relies on preventing and managing shedding and transmission, not on routine medical treatment of all animals. The pathogen can be shed by apparently healthy animals and can persist in a carrier state; antibiotics do not reliably eliminate infection or halt long-term shedding. They may offer only temporary suppression and can mask infection, interfere with surveillance, and promote antibiotic resistance. Therefore, without ongoing abortions or other signs requiring urgent intervention, routine antibiotic therapy does not improve herd health or reduce transmission, so it is not warranted.