Q-fever as an illness is most common in humans. Though it can be carried by many different species of wild and domestic animals, sickness in animals is usually only seen in goats and sheep in the form of abortion or stillbirth. Other domestic animals that can carry it include cattle, cats, pigs, horses and dogs. In areas where there are a lot of ticks, these arthropods can spread the disease. Ticks are not common in Newfoundland.
Humans usually get the disease by breathing in the bacteria.
This most commonly comes from contact with the birthing fluids of infected goats, sheep or cats or from the air in a building where dusty, contaminated bedding is disturbed. In addition, people can get it by swallowing the bacteria. This can happen after getting hands contaminated when handling infected animals or infected bedding. Drinking contaminated raw milk can also result in infection. Though not impossible, it is not considered likely that people with the illness can spread it to other people.