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[[File:Brucella.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center> Brucella spp. (Larry Stauffer 2002, Wikimedia commons)</center></small>]]

[[File:Brucella.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center> ''Brucella'' spp. (Larry Stauffer 2002, Wikimedia commons)</center></small>]]

==Overview==

==Overview==

The ''Bacillus'' species cause chronic granulomatous diseases including [[Human brucellosis]]. They target reproductive organs of certain species. Infected animals act as reservoirs of infection and organisms can remain viable in moist environment for months. They can also cause undulant fever in humans.

The ''Brucella'' species cause chronic granulomatous diseases including [[Human Brucellosis|human brucellosis]]. They target reproductive organs of certain species. Infected animals act as reservoirs of infection and organisms can remain viable in moist environment for months. They can also cause undulant fever in humans.

==Characteristics==

==Characteristics==

''Brucella'' species are small, non-moltile, Gram negative coccobacilli. They are facultative intracellular pathogens. ''Brucella'' bacteria are aerobic and capnophilic. They are catalase positive and oxidase and urease positive, except for ''[[Brucella ovis]]''. They are modified Ziehl-Neelsen positive, forming clusters of red coccobacilli on smears. Some of the species require enriched media for growth. They are also non-haemolytic.

''Brucella'' species are small, ''non-moltile, Gram negative coccobacilli'''. They are '''facultative intracellular''' pathogens. ''Brucella'' bacteria are '''aerobic'' and '''capnophilic'''. They are '''catalase positive''' and '''oxidase and urease positive''', except for ''Brucella ovis''. They are '''modified Ziehl-Neelsen positive''', forming clusters of red coccobacilli on smears. Some of the species require enriched media for growth. They are also '''non-haemolytic'''.

Smooth colonies of ''B. abortus, B. melitensis'' and ''B. suis'' are small, glistening, blue and translucent after incubation for 3-5 days, and become opaque with age. Rough colonies of ''B. ovis'' and ''B. canis'' are dull, yellow, opaque and friable. Slide agglutination with speicific antisera can detect important antigens. Oxidative metaboloic rates can differentiate between species and ''B. abortus'' is lysed by specific bacterophages.

Smooth colonies of ''[[Brucella abortus|B. abortus]], [[Brucella melitensis|B. melitensis]]'' and ''[[Brucella suis|B. suis]]'' are small, glistening, blue and translucent after incubation for 3-5 days, and become opaque with age. Rough colonies of ''[[Brucella ovis|B. ovis]]'' and ''[[Brucella canis|B. canis]]'' are dull, yellow, opaque and friable. Slide agglutination with specific antisera can detect important antigens. Oxidative metaboloic rates can differentiate between species and ''[[Brucella abortus|B. abortus]]'' is lysed by specific bacterophages.

==Pathogenesis==

==Pathogenesis==

==Diagnosis==

==Diagnosis==

''Brucella'' species can be detected by serological testing of milk (Milk Ring Test) and beef cattle (Rose Bengal Plate Test).

''Brucella'' species can be detected by '''serological testing of milk (Milk Ring Test) and beef cattle (Rose Bengal Plate Test)'''.

The serological tests detect anti-lipopolysaccharide antibodies. The LPS antigen is present in virulent as well as some vaccine strains therefore vaccination may confuse serological testing. False positives may be seen due to cross-reaction with LPS in other bacteria. Modified Ziehl-Neelson stains reveal organisms in samples from cotyledons, uterine discharge and foetal abomasal contents. PCR is used for detection in tissue.  

The serological tests detect anti-lipopolysaccharide antibodies. The LPS antigen is present in virulent as well as some vaccine strains therefore vaccination may confuse serological testing. False positives may be seen due to cross-reaction with LPS in other bacteria. Modified Ziehl-Neelson stains reveal organisms in samples from cotyledons, uterine discharge and foetal abomasal contents. PCR is used for detection in tissue.  

Enriched media is used for isolation along with a complement fixation test. Indirect and competitive ELISA, Serum agglutination test and antiglobulin tests can also be used.  

Enriched media is used for isolation along with a complement fixation test. Indirect and competitive ELISA, Serum agglutination test and antiglobulin tests can also be used.  

[[Category:To_Do_-_AimeeHicks]][[Category:Brucella_species]]

 

 

 

 

[[Category:Brucella_species|A]]

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