What are the main symptoms of brucellosis. How is brucellosis transmitted from animals to humans. Can brucellosis be effectively treated with antibiotics. 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. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and is considered a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to people. While relatively uncommon in the United States, brucellosis remains a significant health concern in many parts of the world, affecting hundreds of thousands of people and animals annually.

The disease primarily affects livestock such as sheep, goats, cattle, pigs, and dogs. In humans, brucellosis can cause a range of flu-like symptoms and, if left untreated, may lead to more severe complications. Understanding the nature of this infection, its transmission, symptoms, and prevention methods is crucial for public health and safety.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Brucellosis

Brucellosis symptoms can vary widely and may appear anywhere from 5 to 60 days after exposure to the bacteria. The onset of symptoms can be sudden or gradual, and the severity can range from mild to severe. Some of the most common symptoms include:

• Fever (often intermittent or irregular)
• Sweats, especially at night
• Fatigue and weakness
• Joint, muscle, and back pain
• Headaches
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

Is there a characteristic pattern to brucellosis symptoms? Indeed, one of the hallmarks of brucellosis is its tendency to cause symptoms that come and go. Patients may experience periods of illness followed by apparent recovery, only to have symptoms return weeks or months later. This cyclic nature can make diagnosis challenging and highlights the importance of seeking medical attention if symptoms persist or recur.

Long-Term Effects and Complications

While brucellosis is rarely fatal, it can lead to serious complications if left untreated. In severe cases, the infection may affect:

• The central nervous system
• The lining of the heart (endocarditis)
• The liver and spleen
• Bones and joints

Some individuals may develop chronic brucellosis, characterized by recurring fevers, persistent fatigue, and joint pain that can last for years. This chronic form of the disease can significantly impact quality of life and require long-term medical management.

Transmission Routes: How Brucellosis Spreads

Understanding how brucellosis is transmitted is crucial for prevention. The bacteria can enter the human body through various routes:

1. Consumption of contaminated animal products
2. Inhalation of bacteria
3. Direct contact with infected animals
4. Laboratory exposure

Which is the most common way people contract brucellosis? The primary route of transmission is through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products from infected animals. This includes raw milk, soft cheeses, ice cream, and other dairy items that have not undergone pasteurization to kill harmful bacteria.

Occupational exposure is another significant risk factor. Veterinarians, farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and laboratory personnel who work with Brucella cultures are at higher risk due to potential inhalation of bacteria or direct contact with infected animals or their tissues.

Human-to-Human Transmission

Can brucellosis spread from person to person? While theoretically possible, human-to-human transmission of brucellosis is extremely rare. In the few documented cases, transmission has occurred through:

• Breastfeeding (from an infected mother to her infant)
• Sexual contact
• Organ transplantation

These instances are so uncommon that they do not significantly contribute to the spread of the disease. The primary focus for prevention remains on animal-to-human transmission and food safety practices.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Brucellosis

Diagnosing brucellosis can be challenging due to its nonspecific symptoms that resemble many other conditions. Physicians typically rely on a combination of clinical presentation, patient history (including potential exposure risks), and laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis.

How is brucellosis definitively diagnosed? The gold standard for diagnosis is through blood culture, which can isolate and identify the Brucella bacteria. Additionally, serological tests that detect antibodies against Brucella can be used, especially in cases where symptoms have been present for some time.

Antibiotic Treatment

Once diagnosed, brucellosis is treated with antibiotics. The standard treatment regimen typically includes:

• Doxycycline combined with rifampin for at least 6 weeks
• Alternative combinations may include streptomycin, gentamicin, or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole

Is brucellosis treatment always successful? While antibiotics are generally effective, treatment can be challenging. The intracellular nature of the Brucella bacteria makes them difficult to eradicate completely. Treatment duration is typically long, ranging from 6 weeks to several months, depending on the severity and duration of symptoms prior to diagnosis.

Adherence to the full course of antibiotics is crucial to prevent relapse, which can occur in up to 10% of treated cases. Patients should be monitored closely during and after treatment to ensure complete resolution of the infection.

Prevention Strategies: Protecting Against Brucellosis

Preventing brucellosis involves a multi-faceted approach that includes both individual precautions and broader public health measures. Some key prevention strategies include:

1. Avoiding unpasteurized dairy products
2. Proper handling and cooking of meat
3. Occupational safety measures
4. Animal vaccination programs

What is the most effective way to prevent brucellosis in the general population? The single most important prevention measure is to avoid consuming unpasteurized dairy products, especially when traveling to areas where brucellosis is endemic. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of infection for most people.

Occupational Safety

For those in high-risk occupations, additional precautions are necessary:

• Wearing protective clothing, including gloves and face masks
• Proper handling and disposal of animal tissues and fluids
• Adherence to laboratory safety protocols when working with Brucella cultures

These measures are crucial for veterinarians, farmers, slaughterhouse workers, and laboratory personnel to minimize their risk of exposure.

Brucellosis as a Potential Bioterrorism Agent

While brucellosis is primarily a concern for public health and animal husbandry, it has also been identified as a potential bioterrorism agent. Several factors contribute to this classification:

• Ease of aerosolization and potential for airborne spread
• Low infectious dose
• Ability to cause prolonged illness and disability
• Difficulty in early diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms

Why is brucellosis considered a viable bioterrorism threat despite its low mortality rate? The primary concern is not its lethality but its potential to cause widespread illness and disruption. A large-scale brucellosis outbreak could overwhelm healthcare systems, cause significant economic losses in the agricultural sector, and create fear and panic in affected communities.

Public Health Preparedness

To address the potential threat of brucellosis as a bioterrorism agent, public health authorities have implemented several measures:

• Enhanced surveillance systems to detect unusual clusters of cases
• Stockpiling of antibiotics for rapid response
• Training of healthcare providers in recognition and management of brucellosis
• Development of rapid diagnostic tests

These preparedness efforts not only bolster defenses against potential bioterrorism but also improve overall capacity to respond to natural outbreaks of brucellosis and other zoonotic diseases.

Global Impact and Control Efforts

Brucellosis remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in developing countries where livestock farming is a major economic activity. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that hundreds of thousands of new cases occur annually worldwide, with the highest incidence in the Mediterranean region, Middle East, Central Asia, and parts of Latin America.

How does brucellosis impact global health and economics? The disease causes substantial economic losses in the animal husbandry sector due to reduced productivity, abortions in livestock, and trade restrictions. In humans, it leads to decreased workforce productivity and increased healthcare costs. The true burden of brucellosis is likely underestimated due to underreporting and misdiagnosis in many areas.

International Control Strategies

Efforts to control brucellosis globally focus on a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Key strategies include:

• Animal vaccination programs
• Improved surveillance and reporting systems
• Public education on safe food practices
• Strengthening of veterinary and public health infrastructure

Success stories in brucellosis control, such as its near-eradication in many developed countries, demonstrate the effectiveness of comprehensive control programs. However, challenges remain in implementing these strategies in resource-limited settings.

Future Directions in Brucellosis Research and Management

As our understanding of brucellosis continues to evolve, several areas of research and development hold promise for improving prevention, diagnosis, and treatment:

1. Development of more effective vaccines for both animals and humans
2. Improved diagnostic tools for rapid and accurate detection
3. Novel antibiotic combinations to shorten treatment duration and reduce relapse rates
4. Enhanced surveillance technologies to detect outbreaks early

What advancements could significantly change brucellosis management in the coming years? The development of a safe and effective human vaccine against brucellosis could revolutionize prevention efforts, particularly for high-risk occupational groups. Additionally, point-of-care diagnostic tests that can quickly and accurately identify Brucella infections would greatly improve early detection and treatment initiation.

One Health Approach

The future of brucellosis control lies in adopting a comprehensive One Health approach that integrates human medicine, veterinary medicine, and environmental science. This holistic strategy recognizes that the health of humans is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment.

Key components of this approach include:

• Collaborative research across disciplines
• Integrated surveillance systems for human and animal health
• Joint training programs for medical and veterinary professionals
• Policy initiatives that address brucellosis at the human-animal-environment interface

By addressing brucellosis through this multidisciplinary lens, we can develop more effective and sustainable solutions to control this persistent zoonotic threat.

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.