Q Fever-Related Glomerulonephritis unveiled by Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing

Q fever, a zoonosis caused by the intracellular bacterium Coxiella burnetii, is a significant infectious disease that affects both humans and animals[1]. It is characterized by a wide array of clinical presentations, which can range from asymptomatic to severe and life-threatening conditions. One of the most serious complications of Q fever is the development of glomerulonephritis (GN), which can progress to chronic kidney disease if left untreated [2]. The epidemiology of Q fever in China, as in many other regions, has been obscured by a lack of comprehensive data, leading to frequent misdiagnosis and underreporting [3] [4].