Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species ^[1]. It is characterized in the source material as a disease of livestock and wildlife that also affects humans and is considered common in some settings, including developing countries where it may be neglected ^[1][3]. Source-backed detail on species-specific clinical distinctions is not yet available from the provided snippets ^[1][3].

The clinical picture is often non-specific, with fever, excessive sweating, malaise, myalgia, arthralgia, loss of appetite, weight loss, and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes reported in the sources ^[2]. The course is described as long and recurrent, with involvement of multiple systems and organs ^[2]. Osteoarticular disease is reported as the most common complication, including spondylitis, sacroiliac arthritis, and peripheral arthritis, with a wide reported prevalence range of approximately 2-77% ^[2]. Hepatosplenomegaly is noted in about 50% of patients, and gastrointestinal, respiratory, genitourinary, hematologic, cardiovascular, and neurologic complications are also described ^[2]. Cardiovascular involvement is highlighted as the most serious complication, and more than 80% of reported deaths are associated with endocarditis ^[2].

The sources describe brucellosis as widely spread worldwide and as a major threat to human health ^[2]. It is especially associated with regions where hygiene, food safety, and veterinary care standards are suboptimal ^[1]. Livestock and wildlife are the principal animal hosts named in the provided material, and the disease is also noted as still very common and often neglected in developing countries ^[1][3]. Source-backed detail on current incidence, specific country burden, or seasonality is not yet available in the provided snippets ^[1][2][3].

Human infection occurs through consumption of contaminated animal products or through interaction with infected animals ^[1]. The provided material does not specify which animal products, occupational settings, or environmental routes are most important, so those details are not yet available from the source snippets ^[1].

The provided sources most clearly identify people exposed to infected animals or contaminated animal products as at risk ^[1]. Livestock and wildlife are the principal animal populations involved in the disease ecology, and areas with suboptimal hygiene, food safety, and veterinary care standards are highlighted as important contexts for risk ^[1]. Source-backed detail on specific occupational groups, age strata, pregnancy, or immunologic risk factors is not yet available from the supplied material ^[1][2][3].

The available sources support prevention through food-safety improvement, better hygiene, stronger veterinary care, and interdisciplinary control between human and animal health sectors ^[1]. Animal vaccination is identified as a potential strategy to reduce spread, particularly within livestock populations ^[1]. Source-backed detail on human vaccine use, specific exposure-control protocols, or formal prevention schedules is not yet available ^[1][3].

In surveillance, brucellosis should be read as a zoonotic disease with a chronic or recurrent pattern and a broad, non-specific symptom profile that can complicate recognition ^[2][3]. The sources emphasize the value of combining clinical assessment with laboratory methods and note the importance of blood cultures, serology, and molecular approaches, but detailed case-definition or reporting guidance is not provided in the snippets ^[1][3]. Because the disease is linked to animal exposure and food safety conditions, surveillance is most informative when interpreted alongside veterinary and environmental context ^[1].

1. 1 Qureshi KA et al. Brucellosis: epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment-a comprehensive review. Ann Med. 2023. PMID: 38165919. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2023.2295398. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38165919/
2. 2 Jin M et al. Research progress on complications of Brucellosis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023. PMID: 37065189. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1136674. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37065189/
3. 3 Franco MP et al. Human brucellosis. Lancet Infect Dis. 2007 Dec. PMID: 18045560. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(07)70286-4. PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18045560/
4. 4 brucellosis (Brucella melitensis) (brucellosis). CABI Compendium. 2023. doi: 10.1079/cabicompendium.90734. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1079/cabicompendium.90734
5. 5 Brucellosis. The Journal of Pediatrics. 1948. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(48)80282-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3476(48)80282-9
6. 6 Brucellosis. Encyclopedia of Food Safety. 2024. doi: 10.1016/b978-0-12-822521-9.00030-7. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-822521-9.00030-7

ICD-10

A23

ICD-11

1B92

Total cases

895K

Total deaths

40

Peak month

2022-06

Coverage

7 reporting countries · 2000-01-01 → 2026-06-20