Brucellosis in human - Symptoms, Test and Treatment of Brucellosis
What is brucellosis?
Brucellosis is a communicable and chronic disease of animals like goats, sheep and swine which also affect to the human caused by bacterium Brucella canis and characterized by fever and headache and it may cause to the spontaneous abortion. It is transmitted to the human by contact of the infected animals. "Undulant fever", "Malta fever" or "Mediterranean fever, these are the synonyms of brucellosis.
Three species of Brucella cause the most concern: B. abortus, principally affecting cattle and bison; B. suis, principally affecting swine and reindeer but also cattle and bison; and B. melitensis, principally affecting goats but not present in the United States.
Causes of brucellosis
Brucella bacteria infect cattle, goats, camels, dogs, and pigs. Transmission of the disease to humans occurs by contact with infected meat, contact with the placenta of infected animals, or eating or drinking unpasteurized milk or cheese.
What are the symptoms of brucellosis?
- Fever and Chills
- Headaches
- Back, joint and abdominal pain
- Weight loss due to loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Arthralgia, myalgia
- Depression
- Enlarged liver
Treatment of brucellosis
Brucellosis is very difficult to treat successfully. A combination antibiotic therapy, such as doxycycline and rifampin or an aminoglycoside, is recommended to treat and prevent relapse of infection. Longer courses of therapy may be required for complications. All infected animals should be neutered or spayed to prevent sexually related transmission. All infected animals should be considered to be lifelong carriers of the disease, even if treated.
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