Brucellosis
Brucellosis is caused by the bacteria B. abortusD (from cattle), B. melitensis, B.ovis (from sheep, and goats), B. suis (pigs), and rarely B. canis (from dogs). Commonly transmitted through abrasions of the skin from handling infected mammals, or by ingesting contaminated milk and dairy products.
Manifestation:
In the acute form (approx. 8 weeks from illness onset), symptomatic, nonspecific and ‘flu-like,’ including:
- Fever
- Sweats
- Malaise
- Anorexia
- Headache
- Myalgia
- Back pain.
In the undulant form (approx. 1 year from illness onset), symptoms include:
- undulant fevers
- arthritis
- orchiepididymitis in males.
- Neurological symptoms may occur acutely in up to 5% of cases.
In the chronic form (>1 year from onset), symptoms may include:
- chronic fatigue syndrome-like
- depressive episodes
- Arthritis.
Diagnosis and treatment: Diagnosis is demonstrated by taking a blood test. Treatment with antibiotics is available.
Prevent Brucellosis by:
- Don’t drink un-pasteurised milk
- Don’t eat dairy products from un-pasteurised milk
- Don’t handle infected mammals.
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