Advances in brucellosis research : International symposium : Papers

"Brucellosis is the most important zoonotic disease worldwide that affects both man and livestock. The aetiological agents are gram-negative coccobacillae belonging to the genus Brucella. Brucella melitensis, B. abortus and B. suis have small ruminants, cattle and pigs respectively as their principle hosts. The epidemiology of brucellosis is complex and important factors that contribute to the prevalence and spread in livestock include farming system and practices, farm sanitation, livestock movement, mixing and trading of animals, and sharing of grazing grounds. Transmission from infected livestock to man can either be direct through contact with infected material, or indirect through consumption of produce. Brucella has a very low infectious dose making infection a genuine risk to those occupational exposed and to the public through the consumption of contaminated unprocessed dairy and meats. Brucellosis in livestock In livestock, Brucella results in abortion, reduced fertility and weak offsprings. In man, the disease may affect almost any organ and causes a variety of problems, which if not treated early may lead to severe and prolonged disability. The economic and social impact can be considerable. Mass vaccination of livestock is crucial to the control of brucellosis. Effective reduction of disease prevalence in livestock eventually will also lead to a reduction of brucellosis in the human population. However vaccination alone usually is not sufficient and should be accompanied with a number of other measures such as restriction of trade and animal movement, culling of infected animals and improved farm sanitation. Human brucellosis Human brucellosis requires protractive treatment with a combination therapy which however shows a high relapse and treatment failure rate. Brucellosis is impossible to diagnose based on clinical symptoms and signs alone and requires laboratory confirmation. Find more about the latest developments in research.