Brucellosis

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonotic diseases globally. Studies indicated the existence of Brucella infection in goats in some province of China. Thus this study aimed to estimate the prevalence of brucellosis in goats of Anhui Province, China.

Materials and Methods: Serum and milk samples obtained from goats in different regions of Anhui province were studied through rose Bengal plate test (RBPT), serum agglutination test (SAT), milk ring test (MRT), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results: The investigation frequency of brucellosis using RBPT, SAT, MRT, and PCR methods was 3.9% (n=7), 4.45% (n=8), 11.67% (n=7), and 86.67% (n=156), respectively. The prevalence recorded for brucellosis in sex-wise animals as in females 5.55%, 6.67%, 11.67%, and 78.8% through above methods, while in males, it was 2.23% and 2.23% by RBPT and SAT. However, in age-wise animals, the results 6.36%, 7.27%, 11.67%, and 74.5% were perceived positive by RBPT, SAT, MRT, and PCR in adult females, respectively, but young males and females (up to 9 months) were considered free from brucellosis.

Conclusion: These results show that prevalence of brucellosis was relatively higher in females than male's goats and SAT was relatively specific and accurate as compared to RBPT and MRT, but for diagnosis of brucellosis, molecular method (PCR) is recommended.

Brucellosis merupakan penyakit yang beresiko sangat tinggi, sehingga alat-alat peternakan yang telah tercemar oleh bakteri Brucella sp. sebaiknya tidak bersentuhan langsung dengan hewan ternak, selain itu penyakit ini juga bersifat zoonosis sehingga penyebaran penyakit ke manusia perlu diwaspadai. . Di dalam tubuh hewan penderita, bakteri hidup dalam inti sel dan umumnya dapat diisolasi dari kelenjar pertahanan tubuh (kelenjar limfe) dan beberapa organ dalam tubuh seta saluran kelamin hewan jantan. Sekali hewan bunting, bakteri Brucella abortus mutasi ke uterus (kandungan) dan memperbanyak diri karena ada cairan eryhritol sejenis karbohidrat yang diproduksi organ ini selama kebuntingan dan merupakan media ideal bagi pertumbuhan bakteri ini

The results of an extensive serological survey for brucellosis antibodies using the standard plate agglutination procedure on 14,000 serum samples from native domestic animals and imported livestock over a five year period are reported. The incidence of brucellosis was highest (11.6%) in small ruminants reared intensively in breeding establishments, next highest (2.6%) in imported animals sacrificed during the Hajj season of 1977 and somewhat lower (1.5%) in local livestock sacrificed during the same Hajj season. The incidence was very low among the following groups of livestock: small ruminants raised on desert ranges (0.5%), small ruminants raised in small groups around individual homes (0.4%) and in commercial dairy herds (0.2%).

A practical programme for control of ovine brucellosis in a Najdi sheep flock at Haradh and protection of sheep handlers from infection was implemented. Haradh sheep were serologically tested three times at six-month intervals. Of 2,721 sheep subjected to the first tests, 387 (14.2%) were positive reactors. At the second test 2,072 sheep were tested and 31 (1.5%) were positive. The third test was performed on 2,963 sheep and only nine (0.3%) positive reactors were found. Of eight sheep handlers six had Malta fever. Positive reactor sheep were slaughtered and buried after each test. Following the third test all negative sheep were vaccinated with inactivated Brucella melitensis vaccine. Infected sheep handlers were treated at the Haradh clinic. One year after completion of the programme abortions and infertility problems had disappeared and the lambing percentage had increased from 0.8 to 1.3 lambs per ewe. In addition all young lambs born to vaccinated ewes were found to be serologically negative. We suggest expansion of the present programme into a national brucellosis control campaign in the kingdom.

The results of an extensive serological survey for brucellosis antibodies using the standard plate agglutination procedure on 14,000 serum samples from native domestic animals and imported livestock over a five year period are reported. The incidence of brucellosis was highest (11.6%) in small ruminants reared intensively in breeding establishments, next highest (2.6%) in imported animals sacrificed during the Hajj season of 1977 and somewhat lower (1.5%) in local livestock sacrificed during the same Hajj season. The incidence was very low among the following groups of livestock: small ruminants raised on desert ranges (0.5%), small ruminants raised in small groups around individual homes (0.4%) and in commercial dairy herds (0.2%).

A 49-year-old man was admitted to the hospital with complaints of fatigue, epistaxis and a skin rash. The whole blood count revealed isolated thrombocytopenia (4,000/mL), and the patient was admitted to the hematology department with a diagnosis of immune thrombocytopenia. He did not respond to steroid treatment for 15 days, and a subfebrile fever developed during this period. A diagnosis of acute brucellosis was considered due to positive serological tests and a blood culture positive for Brucella spp. After starting doxycycline and rifampicin therapy, the patient's thrombocyte count increased to 15,000/mL on the third day, to 41,000/mL on the sixth day and was normal on the 21st day of treatment. A diagnosis of brucellosis must be considered in patients presenting with severe and isolated thrombocytopenia in countries where brucellosis is endemic.

An indirect ELISA test was developed for the diagnosis of Brucella canis infection in dogs. A bacterial whole cell extract was used as a solid phase antigen, using B. canis isolated from an infected animal. Sera from culture-positive and healthy negative animals were used as internal reference controls. The cut-off point was determined by a mathematical formula for a statistically valid value, which defined the upper prediction limit, based on the upper tail of the t-distribution of 21 negative control sera readings, for the confidence level of 99.5%. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test were 95% and 91%, respectively. The ELISA test showed a significant concordance index (K=0.84) with the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The reliability of the ELISA for the detection of infected animals was established by a double blind study testing 280 sera provided by serum banks from different diagnostic and research institutions and analyzed by ROC Curve.

The incidence of human brucellosis in Kyrgyzstan has been increasing in the last years and was identified as a priority disease needing most urgent control measures in the livestock population. The latest species identification of Brucella isolates in Kyrgyzstan was carried out in the 1960s and investigated the circulation of Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, B. ovis, and B. suis. However, supporting data and documentation of that experience are lacking. Therefore, typing of Brucella spp. and identification of the most important host species are necessary for the understanding of the main transmission routes and to adopt an effective brucellosis control policy in Kyrgyzstan. Overall, 17 B. melitensis strains from aborted fetuses of sheep and cattle isolated in the province of Naryn were studied. All strains were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamicin, rifampin, ofloxacin, streptomycin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin. Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis showed low genetic diversity. Kyrgyz strains seem to be genetically associated with the Eastern Mediterranean group of the Brucella global phylogeny. We identified and confirmed transmission of B. melitensis to cattle and a close genetic relationship between B. melitensis strains isolated from sheep sharing the same pasture.

Introduction: Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection which is responsible for substantial economic losses along with human morbidities. In Egypt, it is a definite cause of more than 3% of acute febrile illnesses. Brucellosis is principally affecting animals however it can be transmitted from animals to human. Many workers are at risk of infection with brucellosis as herders, hunters, agriculturalists, dairy workers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers. Aim of work: to determine the prevalence of brucellosis seropositivity among occupationally exposed workers, to identify risk factors and to assess the predictors of seropositivity among the studied group. Material and Methods: Seventy five workers occupationally exposed to livestock animals were included and were subjected to an interview questionnaire about Brucellosis risk factors and blood samples were collected and analyzed by Rose Bengal plate test for B. Abortus and B. Melitensis. Results: Seropositivity for Brucella among studied workers was 43(57.3%). It was highest among high risk work activities including veterinarians 19 (44.2%) followed by animal service workers 10 (23.3%), butchers and veterinary assistants 6 (14% each) (p=0.626). The predictors of seropositivity for Brucellosis were dealing with unvaccinated animals (p=0.012) and high risk work activities (p=0.037). Conclusion: Dealing with unvaccinated animals and high risk work activities are the main predictors of seropositivity of Brucellosis among occupationally exposed group.

The clinical utility of two complementary tests for brucellosis, the Brucella IgM and IgG flow assays, was evaluated in a hospital in eastern Turkey. The results show that the flow assays are convenient diagnostic tests for use in endemic areas. A positive result in the flow assays was obtained in 91% and 97% of the admission sera from adult and pediatric patients with brucellosis, respectively, and the sensitivity at admission was 100% for culture-confirmed brucellosis. The assay system performed equally well in diagnosing patients at different stages of illness including patients with acute, subacute, or chronic disease and with relapse. The results of the flow assays correlated well with those of a serum agglutination test at a cut-off > or =1:160. The agreement was 92%. Application of the flow assays on serum samples collected during a village survey for brucellosis after an outbreak demonstrated their diagnostic potential as field tests.

We report here a 70-year-old female patient who was diagnosed with brucellosis and presented with mass formation resembling a tumor. The mass was protuberant, 10 cm from the skin surface with a diameter of 15 cm, located at the inferior-lateral region of the left scapula. Brucella melitensis was yielded from culture of mass fluid. The patient responded to ceftriaxone, rifampin and doxycycline therapy and recovered without any sequela at the end of surgery and 3 months of medical treatment.