Serological and Molecular Techniques for the Diagnostic of Brucellosis

Brucellosis is known as undulant fever or Malta fever, caused by the genus Brucella. It is the most common human zoonosis. The disease is worldwide distributed and causes significant economic losses. In animals, it causes abortion, reduction in milk production, and infertility. While brucellosis in humans is a debilitating disease with various clinical manifestations that may lead to death in some cases. Control of disease in animals needs proper diagnosis, permanent monitoring of brucellosis-free herds, and removal of infected animals. The current review will discuss the serological and molecular techniques daily used for the determination of brucellosis in animals and humans.

Baseline Susceptibility of Culiseta longiareolata (Diptera: Culicidae) to Different Imagicides, in Eastern Azerbaijan, Iran

Background: Culiseta longiareolata is an important vector for many human diseases such as brucellosis, avian influen-za and West Nile encephalitis. It is likely an intermediate host of avian Plasmodium that can transmit Malta fever. The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility level of Cs. longiareolata to different classes of imagicides which are recommended by World Health Organization . Methods: Larval stages of the Cs. longiareolata were collected from their natural habitats in Marand County at East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern of Iran in 2017. Adult susceptibility test were carried out with using impregnated papers to insecticides including DDT 4%, Cyfluthrin 0.15%, Deltamethrin 0.05%, Propoxur 0.1% and Fenitrothion 1% by standard test kits. Results: Results showed that Cs. longiareolata adult is more susceptible to pyrethroid and carbamate insecticides. Among tested insecticides, Cyfluthrin was the most toxic against Cs. longiareolata with LT50 value of 11.53 minutes and Fenitrothion had the least toxic effect (LT50: 63.39 min). Conclusions: This study provided a guideline for monitoring and evaluation of insecticide susceptibility tests against Cs. longiareolata mosquitoes for further decision making.

Recurrent Encephalopathy with Transverse Myelitis: An Uncommon Presentation of Neurobrucellosis

Brucellosis (malta fever) is a zoonotic infection caused by a gram-negative coccobacillus which is a facultative intracellular pathogen. It causes a chronic granulomatous infection, similar in histology to tuberculosis. Brucellosis remains a diagnostic dilemma due to misleading, nonspecific manifestations and increasing trend of unusual presentations. In brucellosis, the nervous system involvement occurs in only 5 to 7% of untreated patients, and it may manifest with encephalitis, meningoencephalitis, radiculitis, and peripheral and cranial neuropathies. Transverse myelitis is an unusual occurrence. Here, the authors are reporting an unusual case of neurobrucellosis in an elderly male patient who visited multiple hospitals with recurring febrile encephalopathy and paraparesis. The diagnosis was suspected by his occupational history of working as an abattoir worker and was confirmed by the presence of high titers of Brucella immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies in the serum. The patient was managed with injection gentamicin for 2 weeks along with oral course of doxycycline and rifampicin for 6 weeks. He made a good clinical recovery and went back to work with mild residual deficits.

Undulant Fever, Melitococemia and focalizations, Brucellosis to be rediscovered

Since, advent of 20th Century, Brucellosis has been making smoldering impact on health care system in developed as well as developing countries.The places dependent on livestock, intertied rural customs, social taboos and sub-optional immunization schedule make transmission of brucellosis rapid. Brucellosis mainly a zoonotic disease makes transmission from animal kingdom to humans through breach of good preventive guidelines. It presents mainly as Undulant fever, which characterizes itself as remitting and relapsing pattern. Its other name of Malta fever derive from its location in Portugal, Israel and Jordan. JMS 2015;18(2):122

Risk Factors for Relapse of Human Brucellosis

<p><strong>BACKGROUND &amp; PROPOSE: </strong>Brucellosis is serious disease around the world, especially in underdeveloped countries. It’s clinical manifestations is extensive.<strong> </strong>Thus diagnosis and treatment of this infection have difficulties, in among them, relapse is a great problem. This study aimed to evaluate risk factors of relapse after treatment in patients.</p><p><strong>METHODS: </strong>It is a descriptive-analytic study from 1990 to 2014, in Ayatolla Rohani hospital in Babol, Iran. We studied 980 patients with brucellosis. The studied community included patients infected with brucellosis and the required information was gathered based on their hospital files. The base for recognizing Malta fever were clinical symptoms and Para-clinical sign congruent with infection like as, titer SAT&gt;1:320 and 2-ME&gt;1:160. Patients with relapse and patients without relapse were placed separately in two groups. The data were statistically compared with Spss 16, by Chi-square and Cox –regression tests.</p><p><strong>RESULTS: </strong>Based on this study, treatment regimen is a preventive factor (P=0.000). Moreover, Based on some statistical methods, regimens no. 3 and 4 were introduce preventive factors (P=0.001) and (P=0.004). It should also be noted that findings the same statistical model, factors like gender, age, residence, professional contacts, complications and delay in treatment were also analyzed but none of them are considered as preventive factors<strong>.</strong></p><p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>Since the main and exact reason for Malta fever’ relapse is not recognized yet, anticipation of relapse is beneficent for treatment of infection.</p>

Seroprevalence of brucellosis in different animal species of Kailali district, Nepal

Introduction: Brucellosis is a contagious disease of livestock with significant economic impact. It is also a zoonotic disease, highly infectious for humans causing a disease called undulant fever or Malta fever. This study was carried out to determine the sero-status of Brucella spp. infection in cattle (cows), buffalo and goat in Kailali district of Far Western Region of Nepal. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in Kailali district of Nepal during a period from September, 2012 to January, 2013. A total of 233 animal blood samples (50 Cattle, 67 Buffalo and 116 Goat) were collected and tested for Brucella antibody by plate agglutination test (PAT). Results: The seroprevalence of Brucellosis was 12% (28/233). Thirty two percentage (16/50) of cattle, 13.4% (9/67) of buffaloes, and 2.6% (3/113) goats were sero positive (p<0.05). Seroprevalence was higher in females (14.6% vs. 10.6%) (P>0.05) and was higher in younger cattles and older buffalo and goats (p>0.05). Conclusions: This study showed that brucellosis exists as a potential threat in animals of Kailali district. This could be a potential source of infection to humans. Considering the high economic losses it can impart on livestock sector and the possible human health abnormalities, timely facilitation of awareness generation program and adoption of proper prevention and control strategies are recommended. DOI: http://doi.dx.org/10.3126/ijim.v2i1.8005 Int J Infect Microbiol 2013;2(1):22-25