<p>Spinal brucellosis in Hulunbuir, China, 2011–2016</p>

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the demographic, epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory characteristics; treatment options; and outcome of human brucellosis with spine involvement at a major hospital in Hulunbuir, a brucellosis epidemic region of China. Patients and methods: A total of 842 patients with human brucellosis treated in the Department of Brucellosis, Hulunbuir People’s Hospital from January 2011 to December 2016 were included and analyzed in this study. The results of 67 brucellar spondylodiscitis (BS) cases were compared with those that were negative for spine involvements. Results: The mean age of spinal brucellosis patients was 50.5±10.2 years (43 males and 24 females; age range 29–70). The risk factors for transmission are direct contact with animals, such as working in the farm, and consumption of unpasteurized milk or daily products. Back pain (92.5%), fever (85.1%), sweating (62.7%), and fatigue (52.8%) were the most common symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in all the patients with spondylodiscitis. The sites of involvement were lumbar (81.2%), thoracic (8.7%), cervical (4.3%), thoracolumbar (2.9%), and lumbosacral (2.9%). All isolates from blood culture were identified as Brucella melitensis , with 61% biovar 3 and 39% biovar 1 isolates. The antimicrobial therapy for BS lasted for at least 3 months. In the presence of paravertebral or epidural abscess, longer treatment was conducted to avoid possible sequelae. Conclusion: In endemic areas such as Hulunbuir, BS should be considered in patients with back pain and fever. MRI is a highly sensitive imaging modality that can be used to differentiate BS from other spinal infections. This study will be helpful to establish strategies for prevention, surveillance, and management of spinal brucellosis in China.

The role of CXCR3 and its ligands expression in Brucellar spondylitis

“…In this study, 96.5% of BS patients were in the chronic phase, which was higher than the report of brucellosis [ 14 ]. It indicated that many patients in Xinjiang were not diagnosed timely.…”

<p>Analysis of the Epidemiological, Clinical Characteristics, Treatment and Prognosis of Human Brucellosis During 2014–2018 in Huludao, China</p>

“…Xingcheng county had more cases than other districts, which was in consistent with the previous study. 16 The high incidence of human brucellosis in Huludao is likely to be associated with the close contact with domestic animals, especially feeding and grazing with sheep or goat, which are supported by some other studies in China, 18,21 but against some studies in other countries which reported that ingestion of raw and unpasteurized dairy products was the main risk factor. [22][23][24] In 2016, the options "wearing masks" and "wearing gloves" were added into the case questionnaire, which could provide more detailed distribution information about the adoption of self-protective measures; while for the option "eating undercooked meat or consuming unpasteurized/raw dairy products" that was also added in the new version of the questionnaire, only 2.5% patients confessed this in the study population, which is different from that in some other studies (88.0%, 77.1% and 74.0%, respectively).…”

Serum changes of PYD, C2C and OC among male brucellosis patients at early period

“…Male patients predominance likely re ects the exposure pattern of human brucellosis. Male patients predominated in the patients with spinal brucellosis, which was the foremost cause of the debilitating and disabling complications of brucellosis [25]. Thus, serum changes of PYD C2C and OC among male brucellosis patients at early period are meaningful, and we also exlcuded effect on osteoporosis caused by female with menopause and age.…”