Brucellosis: Current Status Of The Disease And Future Perspectives (original) (raw)
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Brucellosis is a highly infectious anthropozoonotic disease caused by the bacterial genus Brucella and is prevalent throughout the world. It has a wide host range, and this makes brucellosis an important public health problem causing a negative impact on the economy of the affected country. The disease is endemic in the bovine population, resulting in an estimated economic loss of US dollars 344 billion to the livestock industry. Poor management, irrational animal movement, wide ranges of hosts, large herd size, and commingling of different animal species are risk factors for animal brucellosis. Globally, brucellosis is estimated to account for 500,000 cases in humans every year. The possible risk factors for human brucellosis are eating infected animal products, occupational exposure, and contact with diseased animals or their products and discharges. Human brucellosis is characterized by a variable incubation period and has many clinical manifestations. In humans, undulating fever is the most frequently observed clinical sign with infections reported during the early trimesters of pregnancy. The common measures of preventing animal brucellosis include proper hygiene, control of animal movement, and testing and slaughtering infected animals. Successful prevention of the disease can only be achieved when extension services emphasize addressing the impacts of risk factors for the occurrence of brucellosis. Generally, there is no single prevention strategy that inhibits the transmission of brucellosis amongst animals and humans. Therefore, public education on the transmission, source of infection, public health and economic importance of the disease needs to be undertaken. The control of human and animal brucellosis is multidisciplinary, requiring the efforts of all professionals, and farmers.
Prevalence and risk factors of brucellosis in man and domestic animals: A review
Brucellosis is the most common worldwide zoonosis with 500,000 new cases every year in humans and infections in millions of animals. This infection is mainly acquired by humans through consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products from infected animals. Exposure can also occur occupationally in those who work closely with animals through contact with aborted fetuses and reproductive secretions. Animals acquire the infection from other infected animals through direct contact and vertical transmission. This infection is prevalent in all continents of the world except Antarctica, but its impact is more felt in developing countries where it is endemic in animals and humans. In certain developed countries where the disease was eradicated, there seem to be a re-emergence of the disease as the disease appears to claim more territory. The risk factors of the disease may vary from country to country and region to region, but most risk factors are similar. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products plays a very important role in the transmission of this infection from animals to humans, in addition to direct contact with infected animals and their secretions. The best way to control this ubiquitous infection is through the One Health approach which involves human health, animal health, and environmental health. This paper reviews the prevalence of brucellosis in some countries in various continents of the world and highlights the risk factors responsible for the persistence of this infection in animals and humans with a view to proffering solution to this age-old zoonosis that has defied eradication for many generations in many parts of the world.
Brucellosis: A Highly Infectious Zoonosis of Public Health and Economic Importance
Brucellosis, a highly infectious, neglected, foodborne zoonotic disease, is caused by consumption of unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat of infected animals origin, or direct contact with the discharges. It is the most common re-emerging significant disease globally, and causes a significant human morbidity in endemic regions of the world. Globally, around 500, 000 cases of human brucellosis occur each year. The disease is responsible to cause an estimated economic loss of US dollars 344 billion to the livestock industry. Brucellosis in human beings is especially caused by B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. canis, and B. suis. Since brucellosis affects animals all over the world, people who always work with animals or come into contact with infected animal's blood or other discharges are at higher risk of contracting the disease. Human-to-human transmission of the infection is uncommon; some such instances have happened through breastfeeding, trans-placental transmission, and blood transfusion. The clinical signs of the disease comprises fever, sweating, malaise, anorexia, headache, arthralgias, and back pain. There are three most important laboratory methods for the diagnosis of brucellosis consisting of microbiological, serological, and molecular techniques. The standard treatment for acute brucellosis in adult humans requires a combination therapy of different antibiotics. It is crucial to impart health education to the public to consume only the pasteurized milk, and take care in handling and disposal of foetus, placental membranes, and uterine discharge. Additionally, one health approach including veterinary, medical, environmental, and other related professionals should collaborate to control brucellosis, a life threatening bacterial disease of global importance.
Preventive and Control Programs for Brucellosis in Human and Animals
Journal of Zoonoses, 2014
Brucellosis is primarily a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species. There are currently ten Brucella spp. based on pathogenicity, host preferences and phenotypic characteristics, which are: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, B. ovis, B. neotomae, B. ceti, B. pinnipedialis, B. microti, and Brucella inopinata. Although brucellosis is endemic in most areas of the world, in much of Northern Europe, Australia, the US and Canada, it has been eradicated from livestock following lengthy and expensive control programs. In the Middle East and North Africa region, conflict, associated breakdowns in veterinary public health systems and unrestricted animal transportation through open borders have promoted there emergence of brucellosis. Human brucellosis is considered to be the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis in the world, with more than 500,000 new reported cases each year, mainly in the Mediterranean countries, Central Asia, Arabic Peninsula, India, and Latin America. Even though some countries have effectively controlled brucellosis, new areas of human brucellosis have emerged in areas such as central Asia. Preventive measures require surveillance, animal control, and increased use of brucellosis vaccines for animals at risk. There is no human vaccine for brucellosis and the occurrence of brucellosis is directly linked to the status of animal brucellosis in a region. In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the development of a human vaccine, besides the implementation of control and eradication programs in animals, as a high priority.
Brucellosis -An Infectious Re-Emerging Bacterial Zoonosis of Global Importance
Brucellosis, a highly infectious, re-emerging bacterial anthropozoonotic disease of global significance, is important public health and economic point of view. The disease is found worldwide but it is well controlled in most developed countries. Brucellosis, caused by several species of Brucella, is a sub-acute or chronic disease which may affect many species of animals. In cattle, sheep, goats, other ruminants and pigs, the initial phase following infection is often not apparent. The disease in animals causes tremendous economic losses. The disease is usually transmitted from infected animals to humans through contact with animals or consumption of their products mostly dairy products made from unpasteurized milk. It is also an occupational hazard to persons who are engaged in handling of the infected animals and their products. Laboratory investigation is imperative to confirm an unequivocal diagnosis of brucellosis. Since humans acquire the infection from animals, it is emphasized to control the disease in animals. Proper pasteurization of milk and other dairy products and use of protective wears are important safety measures in those areas where brucellosis is endemic. In recent years, the global epidemiology of the disease has not altered drastically. New strains of Brucella may emerge and existing types adapt to changing social and agricultural practices. Hence, further epidemiological studies on the identification of new strains of the Brucella should be conducted.
An overview of brucellosis in cattle and human
2021
Bacteria of the genus Brucella cause brucellosis, one of the world’s neglected zoonotic diseases. The infection of the disease cause lifetime sterility in human beings. In recent time, there is an in-infection rates between and within the species. Lacking in the resources, poor management and lack of awareness are major factors in the spread of the disease. Abortion in the last trimester is a predominant sign, of the disease in cattle. Besides this, reduced milk yield and high temperature is also observed in the affected animals, while in humans it is characterized by undulant fever, general malaise, and arthritis. While the clinical picture of brucellosis in humans and cattle is not clear and often misleading. In this review, several aspects of management, diagnosis, control, treatment, and preventive aspects are reviewed.
Public Health and Economic Importance of Bovine Brucellosis: An Overview
Brucellosis is an important infectious re-emerging bacterial zoonosis of public health and economic significance. It affects the health and productivity of livestock as well as that of their owners and can have a deep economic impact. Brucellosis in cattle is usually caused by bio-vars of Brucella abortus. In some countries, particularly in southern Europe and western Asia, where cattle are kept in close association with sheep or goats, infection can also be caused by B. melitensis. Occasionally, B suis may cause a chronic infection in the mammary gland of cattle, but it has not been reported to cause abortion or spread to other animals. Humans are almost exclusively exposed to brucellosis through contact with animals and food of animal origin, transmitted via human contact with secretions, predominantly through calving and abortions. The disease can also be spread through the consumption of contaminated, unpasteurized dairy products. Globally, 500000 cases of human brucellosis are reported annually. The prevalence of human brucellosis differs between areas and has been reported to vary with standards of personal and environmental hygiene, animal husbandry practices, and species of the causative agent and local methods of food processing. The most common signs and symptoms of human brucellosis are fever, asthenia, myalgia, arthralgia, sweats, lymphadenopathy, hepatomegaly and splenomegaly. Endemic brucellosis in low-income countries of sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia has multiple economic implications across agriculture and public health and broader socioeconomic development sectors. It is an economically important disease of livestock causing reproductive wastage through infertility, delayed heat, loss of calves, reduced meat and milk production, culling and economic losses. Microscopic examination of stained smears can be useful for a presumptive diagnosis, particularly if the direct examination supported by other tests. Mass vaccination is the mainstay of brucellosis control in livestock, but should be combined with other measures that limit the spread of the pathogen, allow identification of animals and herds, and increase community participation. Human brucellosis is usually prevented by controlling the infection in animals; Pasteurization of dairy products is an important safety measure where this disease is endemic.
The economic and public health significance of brucellosis
Brucellosis is especially caused by brucella melitensis. It remains one of the most common zoonotic diseases that can seriously affect the wellbeing of animals and humans. The disease is caused by diverse Brucella species of which Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis are highly pathogenic for humans. The possible sources of infections include all infected tissues, aborted fetuses, fetal fluids, vaginal discharges, cultures and potentially contaminated materials. The nature aspects of the pathogenesis of the diseases lie on the presence of the bacteria in the cells and employing various methods to survive in the phagocytic cells. The diseases can be transmitted from infected host to susceptible animals in direct and indirect contacts. But the most common mode of transmission is sexual contact. Various methods are employed for the diagnosis of brucellosis including microscopic examination, culture methods, serological and molecular biology. Public health importance of brucellosis is much related to the infected animal species from which human transmission occurs. The economic importance of brucellosis depends up on the species of animal affected. It can cause considerable losses in cattle as a result of abortion and reduction in milk yield. Most literature address control of B. abortus infection by vaccinating young female animals. The most rational approach for preventing human brucellosis is the control and elimination of the diseases in animal reservoir and health education of the public working at high risk area.