Diseases

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is caused by the bacteria B. abortusD (from cattle), B. melitensis, B.ovis (from sheep, and goats), B. suis (pigs), and rarely B. canis (from dogs). Commonly transmitted through abrasions of the skin from handling infected mammals, or by by ingesting contaminated milk and dairy products.

Manifestation:

In the acute form (<8 weeks from illness onset), symptomatic, nonspecific and "flu-like," including:

• Fever
• Sweats
• Malaise
• Anorexia
• Headache
• Myalgia
• Back pain.

In the undulant form (<1 year from illness onset), symptoms include:

• undulant fevers
• arthritis
• orchiepididymitis in males.
• Neurologic symptoms may occur acutely in up to 5% of cases.

In the chronic form (>1 year from onset), symptoms may include:

• chronic fatigue syndrome-like
• depressive episodes
• Arthritis.

Diagnose and treatment: Diagnose is demonstrated by bloodtest. Therapy with antibiotics is available.

Prevent Brucellosis by

• Don’t drink unpasteurised milk
• Don’t eat dairy products from unpasteurised milk
• Don’t handle infected mammal.

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