This week’s image depicts the vacuole of a Vero cell, within which Coxiella burnetii, the bacteria which causes Q fever, is growing. Infection with just one of those green bacterium can cause Q fever in humans, an often asymptomatic disease which can occasionally result in respiratory symptoms, enlarged liver and spleen, and rarely, death. Q fever is found throughout the world, and is transmitted to humans primarily through interaction with contaminated livestock.
(Image via NIAID/Flickr, click for larger image)
The Pandora Report 