The case-fatality rate of untreated brucellosis is documented to be 2% or less. Brucella sp. infections can also lead to spontaneous abortions and intrauterine foetal death in pregnant women but have not been associated with birth defects.
Lethality: Brucellosis has a very low mortality rate, less than 5% of untreated cases, with most deaths caused by endocarditis or meningitis.
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.
In 2021, 165 confirmed brucellosis cases were reported in the EU/EEA. The notification rate in the EU/EEA was 0.04 cases per 100 000 population.
Clinical Presentation
Focal infections are common and can affect most organs in the body. Osteoarticular involvement is the most common brucellosis complication, as is reproductive system involvement. Although rare, endocarditis can occur and is the principal cause of death among patients with brucellosis.
Brucellosis affects males and females in equal numbers. The disorder is rare in the United States since pasteurization of milk is routine and cattle are vaccinated against this disease.
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.
This is a serious zoonotic disease causing illness in people. Brucella abortus no longer occurs in Australia as a result of a national eradication program between 1970 and 1989. Brucella ovis infection causes disease and infertility in sheep, but does not affect people.
Although brucellosis can be found worldwide, it is more common in countries that do not have effective public health and domestic animal health programs. Areas currently listed as high risk are: the Mediterranean Basin (Portugal, Spain, Southern France, Italy, Greece, Turkey, North Africa)
It is a contagious, costly disease of ruminant (E.g. cattle, bison and cervids) animals that also affects humans. Although brucellosis can attack other animals, its main threat is to cattle, bison, cervids (E.g. elk and deer), and swine.
Most cases are caused by ingesting unpasteurized milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep. Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses transmitted by animals and in endemic areas, human brucellosis has serious public health consequences.
Brucellosis is typically spread when the animal aborts or gives birth. High levels of bacteria are found in the birth fluids of an infected animal. The bacteria can survive outside the animal in the environment for several months, particularly in cool moist conditions.
Certain groups of people are at higher risk of getting brucellosis, including people who work in slaughterhouses or the meat-packing industry, veterinarians, laboratory workers, and hunters.
Disinfectants with bleach, at least 70 percent ethanol, iodine/alcohol solutions, glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde will effectively kill the bacteria. How is canine brucellosis prevented?
There is no danger from eating cooked products as normal cooking temperatures kill the disease-causing bacteria. Contact with reproductive discharges from infected animals may spread the disease to livestock workers.
Bovine brucellosis (B. abortus) was eradicated from the Australian cattle herd in 1989 and is presently considered an exotic animal disease in Australia.
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.
Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by Brucella species. It is known by many other names, including remitting fever, undulant fever, Mediterranean fever, Maltese fever, Gibraltar fever, Crimean fever, goat fever, and Bang disease.
Australia is free of Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis. Bovine brucellosis is caused by Brucella abortus and was eradicated from Australia in 1989 as a result of a national eradication program.
Australia successfully eradicated contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in 1973, bovine brucellosis in 1989 and bovine tuberculosis in 1997.
What are the symptoms? Brucellosis typically begins with a flu-like illness. This may include fever, headache, weakness, drenching sweats, chills, weight loss, joint and muscle pain, and generalised aches. Inflammation of the liver and spleen, and gastrointestinal or respiratory symptoms may also occur.
For acute brucellosis in adults and children older than 8 years, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines recommend the following: Doxycycline 100 mg PO twice daily plus rifampin 600-900 mg/day PO – Both drugs are to be given for 6 weeks; this regimen is more convenient but probably increases the risk of relapse.
Canine Brucellosis is a disease found in dogs and caused by the bacterium, Brucella canis. Infected dogs can also spread the disease to people.
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.
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease, meaning you get it from animals. It's also sometimes called undulant fever, Malta fever, Mediterranean fever and many other names.