Brucellosis is one bacterial infectious disease, by infected animals is transmitted to humans. Direct transmission from person to person is rare.
This disease occurs particularly frequently in the Mediterranean area (especially in Turkey), as in Africa, Asia, medium- and South America and on the arabian peninsula on.
Brucellosis is more likely in Germany Rare and is mostly a consequence of imported Illnesses from abroad.
Brucellosis is a worldwide spread bacterial disease caused by various bacteria the genus Brucella is caused. Brucelles are small, immobile, gram-negative cocci that mainly Farm animals like Bovine, Sheep and Goats infested and which in turn can also be transmitted to humans through contact with infected animals.
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Important human pathogens, i.e. are also pathogens that attack humans Brucella melitensis (Cause of Malta fever and above all found in goats, sheep and camels), Brucella abortus (mainly in cattle, trigger of Bangs disease), Brucella suis (especially in pigs) and to a lesser extent Brucella canis (mainly found in dogs).
As the symptoms of brucellosis often unspecific and variable early diagnosis is often difficult. A careful one anamnese (medical admission interview) with inquiries from Eating habits, job and eventual Stays abroad therefore play an important role especially in brucellosis.
In approximately 90 percent of the cases there are no symptoms of brucellosis; in the remaining 10 percent, the symptoms vary from mild fever and a headache up to heavy Joint involvement and Organ damage. Follow like Inflammation of the pancreas, Inflammation of the liver, Disorders of the Blood count or Inflammation of the peritoneum (Peritonitis) and the heart valves are possible and can be fatal.
$config[ads_text2] not foundThe most common causes of brucellosis is the consumption of contaminated, raw (i.e. not boiled / pasteurized) milk or the consumption of contaminated Raw milk products, how Goat or sheep cheese or from raw meat.
Travelers in the Mediterranean in particular should think about precautionary measures and avoiding the consumption of raw milk products and raw meat. Often there are many of those who live there Farm animals attacked by brucellosis pathogens.
Furthermore, a transmission is also through minor injuries at the skin in contact with infected animal products such as urine, Feces and blood possible. Straight butcher and Veterinarians are particularly endangered occupational groups and apply to the occupationally exposed risk groups in addition to laboratory staff.
The brucellosis pathogens eventually spread Mucous membranes or skin injuries in the human body, these are mostly caused by cells of the Immune system caught and to the nearest Lymph nodes transported to where the first place of defense takes place.
If the body does not manage to fight the pathogens, the brucellosis spreads unhindered into the bloodstream, from where it is followed by the next organs how liver and spleen can attack.
Especially in the case of chronic courses, it often comes to an infestation of Joints and Bone marrow. The foci of inflammation that develop there often keep the infection going for many years.
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The incubation period (i.e. the time between infection and the outbreak) brucellosis can be very different. You can from 5 days to several months and years pass. It is important to know, however, that the sick are for others during the entire incubation period contagious could be.
$config[ads_text2] not foundBrucellosis can manifest itself in many different symptoms. In 90% of cases the infection is subclinical, i.e. without the slightest sign of illness. The fact that brucellosis is actually present can only be confirmed by evidence of Antibodies (Antibodies against the pathogen) in the blood to be established.
However, in 10% of the cases it can also become one acute or chronic course come that either creeping (subacute) or suddenly (acute) with strong fever, a headache, nausea, Night sweats, fatigue and of different lengths fever-free intervals goes hand in hand.
Chronic brucellosis usually affects patients whose disease is not treated long enough or for whom the disease has simply not been recognized. Above all, there are unspecific symptoms such as Service interruptions, depressions, Sweats, Spinal infections and Inflammation of the eyes (Uveitites) in the foreground.
Often there is also an infection of bone, Joints, liver or also the spleen.
Often it comes to the formation of Foci of inflammation, from which new pathogens are released again and again, so that the disease persists. Especially the infestation of the Heart and his Valves can have life-threatening consequences.
One speaks of a chronic brucellosis if the symptoms at least 1 year exist for a long time.
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Diagnosing brucellosis is often difficult and primarily relies on determining Antibodies or DNA sequences (using PCR) from the blood. Alternatively, creating blood cultures is helpful, but it is usually very difficult.
If there is a suspicion of an advanced infection with Organ and tissue involvementso can other tissues and fluids such as urine, Liquor (Spinal fluid), spleen, liver and Bone marrow be examined for Brucella.
Brucellosis is usually treated 6 to 12 weeks with a antibiotic Combination therapy Rifampicin and Doxycycline in adults, alternatively Co-trimoxazole in children or when doxycycline is not tolerated.
In order to prevent the brucellosis from becoming chronic, a therapy duration of up to 12 weeks recommended. Should neurological failures or the infestation of several internal organs added so may additional medication like Amoxicillin or Chloramphenicol should be considered. The duration of therapy should also be extended to at least 12 weeks here.
The stopping or failure of therapy is through regular blood tests checked.
The course and prognosis of brucellosis depend on various factors such as the Type of infection, of Severity, individual Pre-existing illness etc. dependent. With properly administered therapy, the prognosis for brucellosis is general very good.
Only in rare cases (up to 5%) there is a Chronification of the diseasewhere it is still to several years after the initial infection Fever intervals and Organ involvement can come.
Lethality (mortality rate) but it is very low (2%). Only in patients who have severe Brucella melitensis infection (Malta fever) with a Heart valve inflammation (Endocarditis) are present, have a higher mortality rate.
A special one vaccination for the prevention of brucellosis in humans there is not any. Therefore, avoiding transmission plays an important role. In Germany, according to the so-called Brucellosis Ordinance, all animals are officially brucellosis-free. For many other countries (especially in Mediterranean area) however, this does not apply. Therefore, the No consumption of raw meat or unpasteurized milk or raw milk products become. Also the Contact to potentially infectious animals should be in endemic areas avoided become.
$config[ads_text1] not foundPeople who work a lot with animals should take appropriate care Hygiene measures such as gloves, protective clothing and careful hand disinfection.
Mothers with brucellosis are primarily allowed do not breastfeed; However, they are allowed to pass it on to the baby after they have decocted their milk.
