An abnormal (positive) result usually means you have come in contact with the bacteria that causes brucellosis. However, this positive result does not mean that you have an active infection. Your provider will have you repeat the test after a few weeks to see if the test result increases.
Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. People can get the disease when they are in contact with infected animals or animal products contaminated with the bacteria. Animals that are most commonly infected include sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, and dogs, among others.
Depending on the timing of treatment and severity of illness, recovery may take a few weeks to several months. Death from brucellosis is rare, occurring in no more than 2% of all cases. Generally, the antibiotics doxycycline and rifampin are recommended in combination for a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
Brucella-specific IgM antibodies are produced in the first week after the disease onset, reaching a maximum after two months. On the other hand, IgG antibodies are detected after the second week of infection, attaining a peak level of six to eight weeks later.
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.
Brucellae are Gram-negative coccobacilli (short rods) measuring about 0.6 to 1.5 μm by 0.5-0.7 μm. They are non-sporing and lack capsules or flagella and, therefore, are non-motile.
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).
Since person-to-person transmission is rare, patients do not have to be held in isolation rooms. Healthcare workers should exercise standard precautions. Laboratory workers should take necessary precautions when working with Brucella species.
Person-to-person spread of brucellosis is extremely rare. Infected mothers who are breast-feeding may transmit the infection to their infants. Sexual transmission has been rarely reported. While uncommon, transmission may also occur via tissue transplantation or blood transfusions.
Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species, which mainly infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs. Humans generally acquire the disease through direct contact with infected animals, by eating or drinking contaminated animal products or by inhaling airborne agents.
Yes, Brucella infections in humans can be cured by antibiotics.
Brucellosis can also cause long-lasting or chronic symptoms such as recurrent fevers, joint pain, testicular swelling, heart infections, nervous system impairment, depression, and fatigue. Death from brucellosis is rare.
How serious is brucellosis? Considering the damage done by the infection in animals-decreased milk production, weight loss in animals, loss of young, infertility, and lameness, it is one of the most serious diseases of livestock.
Overall mortality in recognizably symptomatic acute or chronic cases of brucellosis is very low, certainly less than 5% and probably less than 2%.
*Three types of the bacteria that cause brucellosis – Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella suis – are designated as select agents. This means that they have the potential to be developed as bioterrorism agents due to their ability to undergo aerosolization.
See a GP if you have symptoms of brucellosis and:
you've had unpasteurised milk or dairy products. you've eaten raw or undercooked meat. you work closely with farm animals.
Involvement of the musculoskeletal system is the most common complication of brucellosis, while meningitis and endocarditis are life-threatening complications.
The disease we now know as brucellosis was first discovered in the 1850s in Malta. It came to the attention of British medical officers serving on the island after the Crimean War. It was easy to eliminate the disease in British servicemen, but very difficult to reach Maltese citizens.
The majority of the patients had a positive titre of Brucella melitensis and abortus. In 42% of the patients radiographs of the thoraco-lumbar spine showed bony changes. This study stresses the importance of brucellosis as a cause of backache.
Brucellosis can be diagnosed in a laboratory by finding bacteria in samples of blood, bone marrow or other bodily fluids. Serological tests can also be done to detect antibodies against the bacteria.
Whereas Salmonella envelopes are effective barriers that allow growth in the presence of bile salts, Brucella envelopes are permeable to hydrophobic compounds.
For most presentations of the disease, combination treatment with doxycycline and rifampicin or an aminoglycoside is recommended as first line treatment (1,2,3,4). Fluoroquinolones can penetrate intracellularly and in vitro studies have been encouraging.