Brucellosis

Brucellosis

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria, which occurs equally in humans and animals (anthropozoonosis). It is usually transmitted from animals to humans. Brucellosis can be caused by various bacteria of the genus Brucella. Depending on the type of pathogen, different types of brucellosis are distinguished, for example Mediterranean fever (undulant fever), Bang's disease and porcine and canine brucellosis. In humans, Mediterranean fever is the most common; porcine and canine brucellosis are very rare.

  • How is brucellosis transmitted?

    Brucellosis is caused by small, gram-negative rod bacteria of the genus Brucella, the so-called brucella. Depending on the brucella species that triggers the disease, a distinction is made between the following forms of brucellosis:

    • Mediterranean or Malta fever: caused by Brucella melitensis (mainly in goats, sheep and camels).
    • Morbus Bang, Bang disease: caused by Brucella abortus (mainly in cattle).
    • Porcine brucellosis: caused by Brucella suis
    • Canine brucellosis: caused by Brucella canis

    The last two Brucella species infect humans extremely rarely - as does Brucella neotomae, for example.

  • How is brucellosis transmitted?

    People usually become infected with brucellosis via two routes: Ø via direct contact with infected animals (especially their faeces and urine): The brucellosis pathogen can enter the human body via the conjunctiva, the respiratory tract and skin injuries. Farmers and veterinarians are correspondingly at risk. Ø via the consumption of infected, raw meat or other uncooked or non-pasteurised animal products such as milk or cheese In Germany, cattle, sheep and goat herds are officially brucellosis-free. Infection therefore usually occurs abroad, where brucellosis is still widespread with regional differences.

  • What are the symptoms of the disease?

    In about 90 percent of all those affected, brucellosis runs its course without symptoms or only with mild symptoms (subclinical course). The doctor can then only recognise that brucellosis is actually present by detecting specific antibodies against the pathogens in the blood. In the remaining cases (about ten percent), the disease is either acute or chronic.

  • When does the disease break out and how long is one contagious?

    The time between infection and the outbreak of brucellosis (incubation period) is very variable: it can be as short as five days, but can also be 60 days and more than two years. On average, the incubation period is about four months, in the case of Bang's disease usually only one to three weeks. The pathogens can already be passed on from infected people to others during the incubation period.