Summary about Disease
Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that primarily affects livestock such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. Humans can contract the disease through contact with infected animals or animal products. It causes flu-like symptoms and can become chronic if left untreated.
Symptoms
Symptoms of brucellosis can include fever, sweats (often profuse at night), fatigue, headache, muscle aches, joint pain, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some people may also experience a cough, abdominal pain, back pain, or enlargement of the liver and spleen. Chronic brucellosis can manifest as recurrent fevers, arthritis, endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining), and neurological symptoms.
Causes
Brucellosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Humans usually contract the disease through:
Consuming unpasteurized dairy products: Milk, cheese, and other dairy products made from the milk of infected animals.
Direct contact with infected animals: Handling infected animals, placentas, or aborted fetuses. This is common in farmers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers.
Inhalation: Inhaling contaminated aerosols, particularly in laboratories or slaughterhouses.
Rarely, person-to-person transmission: Though uncommon, transmission through breastfeeding or sexual contact has been reported.
Medicine Used
The primary treatment for brucellosis is antibiotics. Common antibiotic regimens include:
Doxycycline: Usually given for 6 weeks.
Rifampin: Often combined with doxycycline for 6 weeks.
Streptomycin or Gentamicin: May be added to the regimen, particularly in severe cases.
Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX): Can be used as an alternative antibiotic. Treatment duration and specific antibiotics will vary based on the severity of the infection, the patient's age, and other medical conditions.
Is Communicable
Brucellosis is primarily a zoonotic disease, meaning it's transmitted from animals to humans. Person-to-person transmission is rare but possible.
Precautions
Precautions to prevent brucellosis include:
Consume only pasteurized dairy products.
Wear protective clothing (gloves, masks, etc.) when handling animals or working in slaughterhouses or laboratories where Brucella is present.
Practice good hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after contact with animals or animal products.
Vaccinate livestock: Vaccination programs in animals are important for controlling the spread of the disease.
Cook meat thoroughly.
Avoid consuming raw or undercooked meat from potentially infected animals.
How long does an outbreak last?
The duration of a brucellosis outbreak varies depending on the source and control measures implemented. Sporadic cases may occur over extended periods. Outbreaks linked to a specific source, such as contaminated dairy products, can be controlled relatively quickly (weeks to months) once the source is identified and eliminated. However, outbreaks involving livestock can be more prolonged, requiring extensive testing and culling of infected animals.
How is it diagnosed?
Brucellosis is diagnosed through a combination of clinical suspicion and laboratory testing. Diagnostic methods include:
Blood cultures: To isolate Brucella bacteria from the blood.
Serological tests: To detect antibodies against Brucella in the blood. Common tests include the Standard Agglutination Test (SAT), Rose Bengal test, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Bone marrow aspiration and culture: May be performed in severe or complicated cases.
PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction): To detect Brucella DNA in blood or other samples.
Timeline of Symptoms
The incubation period (the time between exposure and the onset of symptoms) for brucellosis is typically 5 days to several months, but usually 2-4 weeks.
Acute Phase: (weeks to months) Characterized by fever, chills, sweats, fatigue, muscle aches, and joint pain.
Subacute Phase: If untreated, the acute phase may transition to a subacute phase with intermittent or relapsing symptoms.
Chronic Phase: (months to years) Some individuals develop chronic brucellosis with persistent fatigue, arthritis, spondylitis (inflammation of the spine), and neurological symptoms.
Important Considerations
Brucellosis can be a debilitating disease, especially if left untreated.
Diagnosis can be challenging due to the nonspecific nature of the symptoms.
Relapses can occur even after antibiotic treatment.
Pregnant women with brucellosis are at risk of miscarriage or premature delivery.
Prevention through pasteurization of dairy products and animal vaccination programs is crucial.
Occupational exposure is a significant risk factor.