Brucellosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia

P Brucellosis is an infectious disease that occurs from contact with animals carrying brucella bacteria.

T Causes
P Brucella can infect cattle, goats, camels, dogs, and pigs. The bacteria can spread to humans if you come in contact with infected meat or the placenta of infected animals, or if you eat or drink unpasteurized milk or cheese.
P Brucellosis is rare in the United States. About 100 to 200 cases occur each year. Most cases are caused by the Brucellosis melitensis bacteria.
P People working in jobs where they often come in contact with animals or meat -- such as slaughterhouse workers, farmers, and veterinarians -- are at higher risk.

T Symptoms
P Acute brucellosis may begin with mild flu-like symptoms, or symptoms such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Back pain
- Chills
- Excessive sweating
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headache
- Joint and muscle pain
- Loss of appetite
- Swollen glands
- Weakness
- Weight loss
P High fever spikes often occur every afternoon. The name undulant fever is often used to describe this disease because the fever rises and falls in waves.
P The illness may be chronic and last for years.

T Exams and Tests
P The health care provider will examine you and ask about your symptoms. You'll also be asked if you've been in contact with animals or possibly eaten dairy products that were not pasteurized.
P Tests that may be done include:
- Blood test for brucellosis
- Blood culture
- Bone marrow culture
- Urine culture
- CSF (spinal fluid) culture
- Biopsy and culture of specimen from affected organ

T Treatment
P Antibiotics, such as doxycycline, streptomycin, gentamicin, and rifampin, are used to treat the infection and prevent it from coming back. Often, you need to take the drugs for 6 weeks. If there are complications from brucellosis, you will likely need to take the drugs for a longer period.

T Outlook (Prognosis)
P Symptoms may come and go for years. Also, the illness can come back after a long period of not having symptoms.

T Possible Complications
P Health problems that may result from brucellosis include:
- Bone and joint sores (lesions)
- Encephalitis (swelling, or inflammation, of the brain)
- Infective endocarditis (inflammation of the inside lining of the heart chambers and heart valves)
- Meningitis (infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord)

T When to Contact a Medical Professional
P Call for an appointment with your provider if:
- You develop symptoms of brucellosis
- Your symptoms get worse or do not improve with treatment
- You develop new symptoms

T Prevention
P Drinking and eating only pasteurized dairy products, such as milk and cheeses, is the most important way to reduce the risk for brucellosis. People who handle meat should wear protective eyewear and clothing, and protect skin breaks from infection.
P Detecting infected animals controls the infection at its source. Vaccination is available for cattle, but not humans.

T Alternative Names
P Cyprus fever; Undulant fever; Gibraltar fever; Malta fever; Mediterranean fever

T Images
- Brucellosis
- Antibodies

T References
P Beeching NJ, Madkour MM. Brucellosis. In: Farrar J, Hotez PJ, Junghanss T, Kang G, Lalloo D, White NJ, eds. Manson's Tropical Diseases. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 28.
P Gul HC, Erdem H. Brucellosis (Brucella species). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, Updated Edition. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 228.

T Review Date 9/27/2017
P Updated by: Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

