Human Brucellosis

Description

Brucellosis is a potentially fatal zoonotic disease of bacterial origin. Cases of Brucellosis occur worldwide. Four species of Brucella are pathogenic in humans: B. abortus (cattle), B. suis (pigs), B. melitensis (goats and sheep) and B. canis (dogs).

Cases of Human brucellosis

• Human brucellosis:
  • Susceptible to B. abortus, B. suis, B. melitensis and B. canis
  • Transmission via contact with secretions from infected animals
  • Routes of infection: skin abrasions, inhalation, ingestion
  • Unpasteurised milk source of infection
  • Undulant fever - fluctuating pyrexia, malaise, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, osteomyelitis
  • Can become chronic
  • B melitensis and B. suis cause most severe infections
  • Antimicrobials