Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonotic infection caused by Brucella species, which humans acquire from infected animals or their products. It occurs worldwide in people of all ages and both sexes, with higher risk for farmers, slaughterhouse workers, butchers, veterinarians and laboratory staff. Most infections follow eating or drinking unpasteurised milk or cheese, or contact with the meat, blood or placenta of infected cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, camels or dogs. Illness often starts with flu-like symptoms such as fever, sweats, fatigue, headache, joint and muscle pain and weight loss; fever can rise and fall in waves, and complications include bone and joint infection, endocarditis, encephalitis and meningitis. Diagnosis rests on a history of animal or dairy exposure, blood tests, and cultures of blood, bone marrow or other affected tissue. Antibiotic combinations, often including an aminoglycoside such as streptomycin, treat the infection and reduce relapse, with longer courses needed when complications arise.

Seek urgent care for a high fever with a stiff neck, rash, confusion, difficulty breathing, or fever after travel to a malaria area. See a doctor when a fever lasts more than three days, when symptoms return after treatment, or when you may have been exposed to an infection that needs testing. Call the local emergency number for any symptom that is sudden and severe. This page is a reference for healthcare professionals and does not replace an assessment.