Brucella melitensis

Brucella melitensis
Phylum	Proteobacteria
Class	Alpha Proteobacteria
Order	Rhizobiales
Family	Brucellaceae
Genus	Brucella
Species	B.melitensis

Introduction

A photomicrograph of the bacterium Brucella melitensis. (CDC 1979, Wikimedia commons)

Brucella melitensis is one of the bacterial organism responsible for Ovine Epididymitis, along with Brucella ovis.

Brucella melitensis however can also infect cattle, unlike Brucella ovis.

It is one of the Brucella genus of bacteria. There are three known biovars.

It is a gram negative coccobacillus that sometimes forms small groups in tissues.

Lifecycle

Brucella melitensis can be transmitted by the stable fly.

Pathogenesis

Severe inflammation of the epididymis particularly the tail cause formation of spermatocoeles and fibrinous adhesions.

Diseases

B. melitensis causes Ovine Brucellosis (Epididymitis). It can also cause epididymitis in cattle.

The disease is notifiable to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

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References

Merck Veterinary Manual, Brucellosis in sheep, accessed online 06/06/2011 @ http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/110506.htm&word=brucella%2covis

This article was originally sourced from The Animal Health & Production Compendium (AHPC) published online by CABI during the OVAL Project. The datasheet was accessed on 2 June 2011.