What are the main symptoms of brucellosis. How is brucellosis transmitted from animals to humans. Why is brucellosis considered a potential bioterrorism threat. What precautions can help prevent brucellosis infection.

Understanding Brucellosis: A Zoonotic Bacterial Infection

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that can affect both animals and humans. This zoonotic disease is caused by various species of Brucella bacteria and primarily impacts livestock like sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs. However, humans can also contract brucellosis, leading to a range of flu-like symptoms and potential long-term health complications.

The disease occurs worldwide but is more common in developing countries with less rigorous public health and animal disease control systems. In the United States, human cases of brucellosis are relatively rare, with only 100-200 cases reported annually. Despite its lower incidence in developed nations, brucellosis remains a significant concern for public health officials and veterinarians due to its potential for widespread transmission and challenging treatment.

Key Symptoms and Clinical Manifestations of Brucellosis

Recognizing the symptoms of brucellosis is crucial for early diagnosis and treatment. The incubation period can vary widely, with symptoms appearing anywhere from 5 to 60 days after exposure to the bacteria. Common signs and symptoms include:

• Fever (often undulant, meaning it comes and goes)
• Profuse sweating, especially at night
• Fatigue and weakness
• Headaches
• Muscle and joint pain, particularly in the back
• Loss of appetite and weight loss
• Abdominal pain

In some cases, brucellosis can lead to more severe complications affecting various organ systems:

• Central nervous system involvement, potentially causing meningitis or encephalitis
• Endocarditis (inflammation of the heart’s inner lining)
• Arthritis
• Liver and spleen enlargement

Chronic brucellosis can persist for months or even years, characterized by recurring fevers, joint pain, and debilitating fatigue. This long-lasting form of the disease can significantly impact a person’s quality of life and ability to perform daily activities.

Transmission Pathways: How Humans Contract Brucellosis

Understanding how brucellosis spreads from animals to humans is essential for prevention. The primary routes of transmission include:

1. Consumption of contaminated animal products
2. Direct contact with infected animals
3. Inhalation of bacteria-containing aerosols

Ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products from infected animals is the most common way people contract brucellosis. This includes raw milk, cheese, and ice cream. Are certain occupations at higher risk for brucellosis exposure? Yes, individuals working closely with animals or animal products face an elevated risk:

• Veterinarians
• Farmers and ranchers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Meat-packing plant employees
• Laboratory personnel handling Brucella cultures

Hunters can also be exposed to brucellosis when field-dressing infected game animals, particularly if they have cuts or abrasions on their hands. While rare, human-to-human transmission is possible through methods such as breastfeeding, sexual contact, or organ transplantation.

Diagnosis and Treatment Approaches for Brucellosis

Diagnosing brucellosis can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms that mimic other conditions. Medical professionals typically rely on a combination of clinical presentation, patient history, and laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis. Blood cultures and serological tests are commonly used to detect the presence of Brucella bacteria or antibodies.

Once diagnosed, how is brucellosis treated? The standard treatment regimen involves a combination of antibiotics taken for several weeks to months. Commonly prescribed antibiotics include:

• Doxycycline
• Rifampin
• Streptomycin
• Gentamicin

The duration and specific combination of antibiotics depend on the severity of the infection and the patient’s age. Treatment can be challenging, as the bacteria can persist in the body, leading to relapses. Close medical supervision and adherence to the prescribed antibiotic regimen are crucial for successful treatment outcomes.

Prevention Strategies: Reducing the Risk of Brucellosis

While there is no vaccine available for humans, several preventive measures can significantly reduce the risk of contracting brucellosis:

1. Avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products, especially when traveling to areas where brucellosis is endemic
2. Practice proper hygiene and use protective equipment when working with animals or in laboratory settings
3. Implement rigorous animal vaccination programs and disease control measures in livestock
4. Educate high-risk groups about the dangers of brucellosis and proper prevention techniques
5. Ensure proper food safety practices, including thorough cooking of meat products

For hunters, wearing protective gloves when handling animal carcasses and thoroughly cooking wild game meat can help prevent infection. In laboratory settings, strict biosafety protocols should be followed when working with Brucella cultures or potentially infected samples.

Brucellosis as a Potential Bioterrorism Agent

Why is brucellosis considered a possible bioterrorism threat? Several factors contribute to its potential as a biological weapon:

• Ease of aerosolization and potential for widespread exposure
• Ability to cause prolonged illness and incapacitation
• Challenging diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms
• Potential for significant economic impact on livestock industries

While rarely fatal, a deliberate release of Brucella bacteria could result in a large number of infected individuals, straining healthcare resources and causing widespread disruption. The difficulty in quickly identifying and tracking a brucellosis outbreak adds to its appeal as a potential bioterror agent.

Public health agencies and healthcare systems must remain vigilant and prepared to respond to both natural outbreaks and potential intentional releases of brucellosis. This includes maintaining robust surveillance systems, stockpiling appropriate antibiotics, and training medical personnel to recognize and treat the disease.

Global Impact and Control Efforts for Brucellosis

Brucellosis remains a significant public health and economic concern in many parts of the world, particularly in developing countries. The disease not only affects human health but also has substantial impacts on livestock productivity and international trade.

How are global organizations addressing the brucellosis threat? Several international bodies are working to control and prevent brucellosis:

• World Health Organization (WHO)
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)

These organizations collaborate to implement comprehensive control strategies, including:

1. Improving surveillance and reporting systems
2. Promoting animal vaccination programs
3. Enhancing laboratory diagnostic capabilities
4. Educating farmers, veterinarians, and the general public about brucellosis risks and prevention
5. Supporting research into new diagnostic tools and treatment options

In countries where brucellosis has been effectively controlled or eradicated in livestock, continued vigilance is necessary to prevent reintroduction. This includes maintaining strict import regulations for animals and animal products, as well as ongoing surveillance in both animal and human populations.

Emerging Research and Future Directions in Brucellosis Management

As our understanding of brucellosis evolves, researchers are exploring new avenues for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Some promising areas of investigation include:

• Development of more effective and safer human vaccines
• Improved rapid diagnostic tests for both animals and humans
• Novel antibiotic combinations to reduce treatment duration and prevent relapses
• Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Brucella pathogenesis
• Exploration of potential immunotherapies to enhance the body’s response to infection

Advancements in genomics and proteomics are providing new insights into the Brucella bacteria’s biology and its interactions with host immune systems. This knowledge could lead to more targeted therapies and prevention strategies in the future.

Additionally, the One Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, is increasingly being applied to brucellosis control efforts. This holistic strategy aims to address the disease at its source by improving animal health management, enhancing environmental surveillance, and strengthening collaboration between human and veterinary health sectors.

The Role of Climate Change in Brucellosis Epidemiology

Is climate change affecting the spread of brucellosis? Emerging evidence suggests that global climate patterns may influence the distribution and prevalence of brucellosis:

• Changing temperatures and precipitation patterns can affect the survival and transmission of Brucella bacteria in the environment
• Alterations in animal migration patterns and human agricultural practices may lead to new areas of disease emergence
• Increased frequency of extreme weather events could disrupt animal health management systems, potentially leading to disease outbreaks

Researchers are working to better understand these complex interactions and develop predictive models to anticipate and mitigate the potential impacts of climate change on brucellosis epidemiology. This knowledge will be crucial for adapting control strategies in the face of evolving environmental conditions.

Socioeconomic Factors and Brucellosis Control

The successful control and prevention of brucellosis are closely tied to socioeconomic factors, particularly in developing countries. Key considerations include:

• Access to veterinary services and animal vaccines
• Education and awareness about food safety and zoonotic diseases
• Cultural practices related to animal husbandry and consumption of animal products
• Economic incentives for farmers to participate in disease control programs

Addressing these factors requires a multidisciplinary approach involving public health officials, veterinarians, economists, and social scientists. By considering the broader socioeconomic context, interventions can be tailored to local needs and conditions, increasing their effectiveness and sustainability.

Technological Innovations in Brucellosis Surveillance

Advancements in technology are opening new possibilities for brucellosis surveillance and control. Innovative approaches include:

• Mobile health (mHealth) applications for real-time disease reporting and tracking
• Drone-based systems for monitoring wildlife populations and detecting potential disease reservoirs
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms for analyzing epidemiological data and predicting outbreaks
• Blockchain technology for ensuring the traceability of animal products throughout the supply chain

These technological tools have the potential to enhance early warning systems, improve the efficiency of control efforts, and facilitate data sharing between different stakeholders involved in brucellosis management.

As research continues and our understanding of brucellosis deepens, the global community is better equipped to tackle this challenging zoonotic disease. By combining traditional public health measures with cutting-edge scientific advancements, we can work towards reducing the burden of brucellosis on both human and animal populations worldwide.

Brucellosis – MN Dept. of Health

On this page:
What is brucellosis?
How do people get brucellosis?
Can you get it from other people?
Can brucellosis be treated?
Can brucellosis be prevented?
Why is brucellosis considered a possible terror weapon?
What should I do if I think I may have brucellosis?

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What is brucellosis?

Brucellosis is a disease, caused by bacteria, which affects many different kinds of animals – including sheep, goats, cattle, deer, elk, pigs, and dogs. However, it can also cause a disease with flu-like symptoms in humans. People with brucellosis may develop fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness. In severe cases, the central nervous system and the lining of the heart may be affected. One form of the illness may also cause long-lasting symptoms, including recurrent fevers, joint pain, and fatigue. Symptoms can appear anywhere from five to 60 days after exposure.

Human cases of brucellosis are uncommon, with only 100 to 200 cases a year reported in the U.S. Although brucellosis can make you very sick, it is rarely fatal.

How do people get brucellosis?

People can be infected with brucellosis bacteria by

• eating or drinking something that’s been contaminated with the bacteria
• inhaling the bacteria
• having a wound that gets infected with the bacteria

The most common way that people get the disease is by drinking or eating unpasteurized, contaminated milk or cheese. You can also get it by breathing in the bacteria. That happens less often, but it can be a hazard for people in some kinds of jobs – people who work in labs or slaughterhouses, for example. Infected wounds can be a problem for veterinarians, slaughterhouse workers, or hunters. Hunters can get it by eating food that they have accidentally contaminated with brucellosis bacteria, while cleaning wild game.

It would also be possible to deliberately expose people to brucellosis, by releasing the bacteria into the air or putting it in food.

Can you get it from other people?

It’s possible for people to infect each other with brucellosis – but it’s extremely rare. In rare cases, nursing mothers can pass the bacteria to their babies. The bacteria can also be transmitted sexually.

Can brucellosis be treated?

Brucellosis can be treated with antibiotics – but it can take a long time, and treatment can be difficult. Depending on the severity of the illness – and when treatment is begun – it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to recover.

Can brucellosis be prevented?

There is no vaccine available for brucellosis. However, you can reduce your risk if you avoid eating or drinking unpasteurized milk, cheese and ice cream when you travel. Hunters should wear rubber gloves when handling the internal organs of animals.

Why is brucellosis considered a possible terror weapon?

Brucellosis can make people sick – and keep them from normal activity – for a long time. It is easy to release the bacteria in ways that will expose people to the illness. Though rarely fatal, it can make a lot of people sick. Identifying and tracking a brucellosis outbreak would be difficult for public health.

What should I do if I think I may have brucellosis?

People who believe they have brucellosis should see a doctor. You should also contact your local law enforcement agency if you have any reason to suspect unusual activity in connection with an outbreak of brucellosis – or any other serious illness.

Brucellosis – Symptoms & causes

Overview

Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that spreads from animals to people. Most commonly, people are infected by eating raw or unpasteurized dairy products. Sometimes, the bacteria that cause brucellosis can spread through the air or through direct contact with infected animals.

Signs and symptoms of brucellosis may include fever, joint pain and fatigue. The infection can usually be treated with antibiotics. However, treatment takes several weeks to months, and the infection can recur.

Brucellosis affects hundreds of thousands of people and animals worldwide. Avoiding raw dairy products and taking precautions when working with animals or in a laboratory can help prevent brucellosis.

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Symptoms

Symptoms of brucellosis may show up anytime from a few days to a few months after you’ve been infected. Signs and symptoms are similar to those of the flu and include:

• Fever
• Chills
• Loss of appetite
• Sweats
• Weakness
• Fatigue
• Joint, muscle and back pain
• Headache

Brucellosis symptoms may disappear for weeks or months and then return. Some people have chronic brucellosis and experience symptoms for years, even after treatment. Long-term signs and symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Recurrent fevers
• Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers (endocarditis)
• Joint inflammation (arthritis)
• Arthritis of the spinal bones (spondylitis)
• Arthritis of joints where the spine and pelvis connect (sacroiliitis)

When to see a doctor

Brucellosis can be hard to identify, especially in the early stages, when it often resembles other conditions, such as the flu. See your doctor if you develop a rapidly rising fever, muscle aches or unusual weakness and have any risk factors for the disease, or if you have a persistent fever.

Causes

Brucellosis affects many wild and domestic animals, including:

• Cattle
• Goats
• Sheep
• Pigs and wild hogs
• Dogs, especially those used in hunting
• Deer
• Elk
• Bison
• Caribou
• Moose
• Camels

A form of brucellosis also affects harbor seals, porpoises and certain whales.

The most common ways that bacteria spread from animals to people are by:

• Eating raw dairy products. Brucella bacteria in the milk of infected animals can spread to humans in unpasteurized milk, ice cream, butter and cheeses. The bacteria can also be transmitted in raw or undercooked meat of infected animals.
• Inhaling contaminated air. Brucella bacteria spread easily in the air. Farmers, hunters, laboratory technicians and slaughterhouse workers can inhale the bacteria.
• Touching blood and body fluids of infected animals. Bacteria in the blood, semen or placenta of an infected animal can enter your bloodstream through a cut or other wound. Because normal contact with animals — touching, brushing or playing — doesn’t cause infection, people rarely get brucellosis from their pets. Even so, people who have weakened immune systems should avoid handling dogs that are known to have the disease.

Brucellosis normally doesn’t spread from person to person, but in a few cases, women have passed the disease to their children during birth or through their breast milk. Rarely, brucellosis may spread through sexual activity or through contaminated blood or bone marrow transfusions.

Risk factors

While brucellosis is rare in the United States, it is more common in other parts of the world, especially:

• Southern Europe, including Portugal, Spain, Turkey, Italy, Greece, Southern France
• Eastern Europe
• Mexico, South and Central America
• Asia
• Africa
• The Caribbean
• The Middle East

Occupations at higher risk

People who work with animals or who come into contact with infected blood are at higher risk of brucellosis. Examples include:

• Veterinarians
• Dairy farmers
• Ranchers
• Slaughterhouse workers
• Hunters
• Microbiologists

Complications

Brucellosis can affect almost any part of your body, including your reproductive system, liver, heart and central nervous system. Chronic brucellosis may cause complications in just one organ or throughout your body. Possible complications include:

• Inflammation of the inner lining of the heart chambers (endocarditis). This is one of the most serious complications of brucellosis. Untreated endocarditis can damage or destroy the heart valves and is the leading cause of brucellosis-related deaths.
• Arthritis. Joint inflammation is marked by pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, especially the knees, hips, ankles, wrists and spine. Inflammation of the joints in your spine (spondylitis) or the joints linking the lower spine and pelvis (sacroiliitis) can be particularly hard to treat and may cause lasting damage.
• Inflammation and infection of the testicles (epididymo-orchitis). The bacteria that cause brucellosis can infect the epididymis, the coiled tube that connects the vas deferens and the testicle. From there, the infection may spread to the testicle itself, causing swelling and pain, which may be severe.
• Inflammation and infection of the spleen and liver. Brucellosis can also affect the spleen and liver, causing them to enlarge beyond their usual size.
• Central nervous system infections. These include potentially life-threatening illnesses such as inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord (meningitis) or inflammation of the brain itself (encephalitis).

Prevention

To reduce the risk of getting brucellosis, take these precautions:

• Avoid unpasteurized dairy foods. In recent years in the United States, few cases of brucellosis have been linked to raw dairy products from domestic herds. Still, it’s best to avoid unpasteurized milk, cheese and ice cream, no matter what their origin. If you’re traveling to other countries, avoid all raw dairy foods.
• Cook meat thoroughly. Cook a whole cut of meat until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 F (63 C) and let it rest for at least three minutes — a medium doneness. Cook ground meat to 160 F (71 C) — well done. Cook all poultry, including ground poultry, to 165 F (74 C). When traveling outside of the United States, avoid undercooked meats.
• Wear gloves. If you’re a veterinarian, farmer, hunter or slaughterhouse worker, wear rubber gloves when handling sick or dead animals or animal tissue or when assisting an animal giving birth.
• Take safety precautions in high-risk workplaces. If you work in a laboratory, handle all specimens under appropriate biosafety conditions. Slaughterhouses should also follow protective measures, such as separating the killing floor from other processing areas and use of protective clothing.
• Vaccinate domestic animals. In the United States, an aggressive vaccination program has nearly eliminated brucellosis in livestock herds. Because the brucellosis vaccine is live, it can cause disease in people. Anyone who has an accidental needle stick while vaccinating an animal should be treated.

Brucellosis IgA | Clinical diagnostic laboratories “OLIMP”

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Posted on 23 May 2018 by by admin

Description

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella, characterized by multiple lesions of human organs. The disease is transmitted through contact with farm animals and eating animal products: milk, meat, cheese, cottage cheese. The source is: goats, sheep, cows and pigs. Three species of Brucella are dangerous to humans Brucella abortus (cattle), B.melitensis (small cattle), B.suis (pigs).

The symptoms of brucellosis are varied and appear, on average, within two weeks of infection. Manifestations are highly variable and non-specific, making diagnosis difficult.

In general, the symptoms of brucellosis resemble influenza:

Fever;

Chill;

General weakness, malaise, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation;

Loss of appetite;

Pain in muscles, joints;

Swelling of the joints;

Cough and shortness of breath with lung involvement.

The test refers to the serological diagnosis of infectious diseases. The test material is blood, in which antibodies to the pathogen are detected. Antibodies are components of the body’s immune system that are produced to destroy a specific foreign antigen protein. In this case, the antigen is Brucella (B. abortus, B. suis, B. melitensis). There are several types of antibodies: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG and IgM. However, the immune system can not always cope with brucellosis, even with a very high concentration of antibodies. Each of the listed antibodies has its own function and its own period of appearance.

IgA is produced already 5 days after infection. The peak of IgA falls on 1-2 weeks, then there is a gradual decrease in their number and after 2-3 months the antibodies disappear completely even without treatment (they are replaced by IgG). If an exacerbation occurs during the chronic course of brucellosis, IgA reappears.

IgG is produced 15-20 days after infection and may persist in small quantities for a long time. After re-infection, the antibody titer rises again.

Read more about brucellosis in the article: “Silent epidemic of brucellosis”

Indications

Indications for prescription:

Diagnosis of brucellosis;

Fever or joint pain of unknown cause.

Entering a risk group (workers or residents of rural areas; people who eat home-produced meat and dairy products).

Interpretation of results

Interpretation of results:

Positive test result:

Acute brucellosis, infection less than 2 to 3 weeks ago;

Exacerbation of chronic brucellosis;

Negative test result:

Absence of IgA antibodies to Brucella;

Brucellosis infection less than 5 days prior to analysis;

Absence of brucellosis;

Chronic course of brucellosis (more than 2-3 months from the moment of infection).

signs, symptoms, causes, diagnosis and treatment of the disease

Allergist – Immunologist, Infectionist

The information provided on this page should not be used for self-treatment or self-diagnosis. If you suspect a disease, you should seek help from a qualified specialist. Only your doctor can diagnose and prescribe treatment.

Contents of the article:

• Epidemiology of the disease and routes of infection
• Ways of transmission of brucellosis
• Symptoms of brucellosis in humans
• Classification of brucellosis
• Diagnostic methods
• Treatment of brucellosis
• Prophylaxis

What is brucellosis?

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that affects various organs and systems of the body, and the clinical picture does not have a clearly defined specificity. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection, its causative agent is transmitted to humans from sick animals. The disease often becomes chronic, in severe cases it can lead to disability.

Epidemiology of the disease and routes of infection

The causative agent of brucellosis is a bacterium of the genus Brucella. 8 varieties of Brucella have been identified, 6 of which are dangerous to humans.

Brucella are adapted to external conditions: withstand low temperatures, remain in the soil, on the skin and fur of animals, in water, milk, frozen meat. Under these conditions, bacteria can live from 1.5 to 5 months. Boiling kills microorganisms instantly, when heated to 60 ° C, they die within 30 minutes.

The severity of the disease depends on the type of Brucella it is caused by. Acute and severe cases of the disease are more often caused by Brucellamelitensis.

The source of brucellosis infection is animals. The infection is mainly transmitted to humans from cows, goats, sheep, and pigs. Less often – from camels, horses and other animals. The bacterium is found in various biological fluids of animals – milk, feces, amniotic fluid.

Most often, infection occurs when a person consumes contaminated milk and products of its processing (koumiss, feta cheese, cheeses), processing skins, skins of sick animals.

Ways of transmission of brucellosis

• fecal-oral – through water and food;
• contact-household – the bacterium is introduced through microdamages of the skin and mucous membranes;
• aerogenic – inhalation of contaminated dust.

People who consume milk and dairy products without heat treatment are more likely to be infected by the fecal-oral route. Contact-household and aerogenic routes of transmission are less common, they mainly cause illness in those who care for animals, process the products and raw materials received from them. If a pregnant woman has brucellosis, there is a high chance of infection of the fetus or transmission of the infection to the infant during breastfeeding Source:
Features of the parasitic system of brucellosis. Gorchakova N.G. Research publications №4, 2017. p. 14-27.

Symptoms of brucellosis in humans

The duration of the incubation period is from 1 to 8 weeks, on average 2-4 weeks. It depends on the form of the disease, with an acute form the incubation period is shorter, with latent carriage it can reach 3 months.

All forms of brucellosis in the initial stage are characterized by the following symptoms:

• General infectious intoxication – weakness, malaise, headache, insomnia.
• Hyperthermia or fever – prolonged increase in body temperature to subfebrile numbers (up to 38 ° C) or undulating fever with sharp rises and falls. The duration of the fever is up to several months, it is accompanied by chills and intense sweating.
• Arthralgia and myalgia – joint and muscle pain, often affecting the lower extremities. These pains are a characteristic symptom of brucellosis.

As the disease develops, patients may develop hepatolienal syndrome – an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, generalized microlymphadenopathy – an increase in lymph nodes in non-adjacent areas, various lesions of the nervous system – from impaired sensitivity and loss of consciousness to paralysis of the limbs, mental disorders. With different forms of brucellosis, different symptoms join. Source:
New approach to allergodiagnosis of brucellosis. Ponomarenko D.G., Logvinenko O.V., Sarkisyan N.S., Rakitina E.L., Golub O.G., Kulichenko A.N. Infection and Immunity No. 1, 2013. p. 89-92.

Classification

In the subacute form, allergic signs appear – rashes, dermatitis, vascular reactions. As well as in acute, fibrosis and cellulitis, lesions of the articular and ligamentous systems – bursitis, polyarthritis can occur. The subacute form may affect the reproductive system. In men, the testicles and their appendages (orchitis, epididymitis) are affected, in women – dysmenorrhea, endometritis occur, and the risk of spontaneous miscarriages increases.

Severe subacute form may be complicated by pericarditis (inflammation of the heart membranes), infectious-toxic shock.

The main symptoms of the chronic form of brucellosis depend on the severity of the body’s reaction to the pathogen and toxins (allergic component) and which systems are affected and how much. Articular, nervous and reproductive systems often suffer. The defeat of the reproductive system can provoke female and male infertility, impotence.

Sharp

The duration of the acute form is up to 1.5 months. In an acute form, the symptoms described above can be accompanied by fibrositis and cellulitis – dense painful formations along the tendons and muscles. Their size can vary from a pea to a chicken egg.

Subacute

Subacute disease lasts up to 4 months. It is characterized by alternating normal temperature with febrile attacks. The periods have different durations, in the fever phase the body temperature rises both to subfebrile (up to 38 ° C) and to higher numbers. Against the background of an increase in temperature, signs of intoxication, muscle and joint pain are expressed, and a violation of the heart rhythm is possible – a slowdown in the pulse (bradycardia) with an increase in temperature and an increase in the pulse (tachycardia) with its normalization. During phonendoscopy, the heart sounds are muffled. Patients are concerned about thirst, dry mouth, constipation.

Chronic

Chronic brucellosis is diagnosed if the disease persists for more than 4 months. The disease can last up to 2-3 years, with reinfection its duration increases, the patient’s well-being worsens. Periods of exacerbation are replaced by remission, which lasts up to 1-2 months. Hyperthermia and symptoms of intoxication during periods of exacerbations are mild, body temperature rarely rises above subfebrile values.

Residual

The residual form of brucellosis is a delayed effect of the disease. Under the influence of the pathogen and produced toxins, the body’s immunological response changes, pathological reactivity is formed. The residual form is characterized by subfebrile temperature, lesions of the psyche and peripheral nervous system, articular pathologies. The long course of the disease leads to irreversible degeneration of the joints and ligaments, persistent functional disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Often these disorders require surgical treatment, in complex cases they can lead to disability

Diagnostic methods

In addition to taking an anamnesis and examining the patient, laboratory diagnostics is necessary to detect brucellosis. It is carried out in institutions specially equipped to work with pathogens of especially dangerous infections. To isolate Brucella from blood and other biological fluids, they are sown on special nutrient media. Sowing is not always carried out. To make a diagnosis of brucellosis, a serological reaction and the presence of antigens to brucella in the patient’s blood are sufficient. Source:
Nutrient media for the diagnosis of brucellosis. Kovtun Yu. S., Kurilova A. A., Katunina L. S., Vasilenko E. I. Problems of especially dangerous infections No. 4, 2019. p. 17-25.

Treatment of brucellosis

The disease is treated in infectious hospitals, a severe course is an indication for hospitalization of the patient in the intensive care unit. Since allergic reactivity is of great importance in the pathogenesis of the disease, an allergist-immunologist takes part in the treatment.

During the febrile period, bed rest, a diet with fluid control and salt restriction are recommended.

The main therapy is antibiotics of different groups, most often a combination of two drugs is prescribed. In addition to this, detoxification, symptomatic and immunostimulating therapy is carried out.

During the period of remission, patients are recommended exercise therapy, physiotherapy, spa treatment. Source:
Efficiency of etiopathogenetic treatment of chronic brucellosis. B. N. Kosherova. Medicine and ecology, 2012.

Prevention

To prevent infection with brucellosis at home, heat treatment of products is necessary. This is a thorough frying of meat, boiling milk. You need to purchase agricultural products in stores or markets where veterinary control is present.

People working with animals (veterinarians, fur farm workers, hunters) should take precautions, use protective gloves, goggles, aprons.