Urban outbreak of a Brucella melitensis infection in an Argentine family: Clinical and diagnostic aspects

Abstract

An outbreak of Brucella melitensis in a family was studied. From the fourteen family members who ate unpasteurized goat cheese nine became ill. Patients included four females and five males of 8 to 75 years old. In seven of the patients the diagnosis was confirmed by positive blood culture for B. melitensis biovar 1. All the patients were analyzed by standard tube agglutination (STA) and standard tube agglutination with 2-mercaptoethanol (STA-2ME) tests at the time of diagnosis. In six of the patients, ELISA assays were used to assess the humoral immune anti-protein and anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) responses. Anti-LPS IgG antibodies were detected in all of the patients. Anti-proteins IgG antibodies were present at significant levels in all the studied patients including the STA-2ME negative ones.

Detection of Brucella melitensis DNA in the milk of sheep after abortion by PCR assay

“…In dairy animals, microorganisms localize in the supramammary lymph nodes and these can continue to excrete them in milk (Cordes andCarter 1979, Refai 2003). People contract the disease by direct contact with contaminated fetal membranes or, more commonly, as a result of the consumption of contaminated unpasteurized milk and cheese products (Young 1983, Wallach et al 1994. Studies performed in different regions of Turkey have shown that B. melitensis is responsible for approximately 20% of the abortion cases in sheep (Arda et al 1987, Kenar et al 1990.…”

ELISA versus Conventional Methods of Diagnosing Endemic Brucellosis

“…Transmission to humans occurs by ingestion of infected raw milk and milk products or by exposure to infected animals. 3,4 Although brucellosis in animals has been the target of aggressive eradication programs in several countries, the morbidity associated with brucellosis in humans still remains considerably significant with severe economic consequences. Human brucellosis is a protean disease, but most bacteremic patients have the typical presentations of recurrent fever, lassitude, joint pain, and sweating at night.…”

A Foodborne Outbreak of Brucellosis at a Police Station Cafeteria, Lima, Peru

“…None of the household members of the cases developed brucellosis during the 18 months of our follow-up. In previous studies, however, a high rate of family cases has been found in household members of brucellosis patients, 24,25,27,28 suggesting that the infection was not acquired at home in this outbreak. *Ami = Amikacin; Azi = Azithromycin; Doxy = Doxycycline; Gent = Gentamicin; Rif = Rifampin; Trime-Sulfa = Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole.…”

“…[3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Food-borne outbreaks have been reported in families or neighborhoods as a result of the ingestion of goat white cheese distributed to households. 6,[24][25][26][27][28] It is known that patients with Brucella infection may well be asymptomatic despite being proven by culture to be bacteremic. 29,30 Nonetheless, our present report reinforces the need for active surveillance and contact tracing after apparent point source outbreaks given the subclinical or early cases that are not identified in a timely manner because of non-specific symptoms.…”

“…Previous reports focused on family, [24][25][26][27] laboratory, or animal-associated risk factors for infection. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9] Food-borne outbreaks have been reported in families or neighborhoods as a result of the ingestion of goat white cheese distributed to households.…”