Brucellosis The disease and Panbio product training

Overview World wide zoonotic disease –esp. predominant in Mediterranean basin, Arabian gulf, Indian subcontinent and parts of Mexico & Central and South America. Also known as undulant fever or Mediterranean fever. Transmitted to man from animals. Occupational disease - meat, dairy or livestock industries. Milk is pasteurised due to the danger to public health.

Infectious Agent Brucella sp –non spore forming bacteria –small gram negative coccobacilli –organism is resistant and may remain viable in refrigerated milk and pickled products. 4 sp. are pathogenic for humans (natural host):- –B. abortus (cattle) - prime infecting organism –B. melitensis (goats and sheep) –B. suis (swine) –B. canis (dogs)

Clinical Notes B. abortus & B. suis –infection usually occupational (livestock industry). B. melitis –infection primarily foodbourne and associated with consumption of unpasteurised dairy products. Systemic infection - can involve any organ of the body. Symptoms are non-specific, generalised usually occurring within 2-3 weeks of inoculation.

Clinical notes cont… Acute symptoms –onset may be sudden or gradual –initially resembles influenza –characterised by fever in evenings, remitting in morning –sweats followed by chills –weakness, malaise, anorexia –arthralgia onset may be sudden or gradual

Clinical notes cont… Chronic symptoms –illness persists or reoccurs for a year or more –symptoms often attributed to recurring flu –headache, anorexia, sweats –faintness & dizziness –anxiety & depression

Antibody Response IgM titre increases soon after exposure to organism IgM can persist for up to 6 to 12 months Increased titres of IgG antibody may decrease after treatment.

Diagnosis Agglutination –false negative results can occur because of prozone or blocking Abs –no single titre is diagnostic –will not detect Abs to B. canis CFT –results can differ between laboratories, time consuming, labour intensive, takes 24hrs for a result

Diagnosis cont... Isolation –often unsuccessful particularly in chronic Brucellosis –time consuming ELISA –provides a sensitive and specific diagnosis –rapid and user-friendly

Panbio Brucella ELISA kits Brucella IgG ELISA Cat # E-BAB01G Brucella IgM ELISA Cat # E-BAB01M

Promotional Resources Clinical Notes Sheet General publications Abstract Araj et al. 2002