Abstract
BackgroundBrucellosis is an endemic infection in Georgia. We conducted a review of patient records with a suspected or confirmed diagnosis of brucellosis over three decades at the central referral hospital for brucellosis cases, the Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Medicine (IPTM) in Tbilisi. The purpose was to describe the demographic profile and clinical characteristics as well as diagnostic and treatment strategies in patients with brucellosis.MethodsData were abstracted from randomly selected patient records at the IPTM. In total, 300 records were reviewed from three time periods: 1970-73, 1988-89, and 2004-2008.ResultsThe age distribution of patients shifted from a median age of 40 years in the first time period to 20 years in the third time period. Azeri ethnicity was an increasing proportion of the total number of cases. The frequency of relapsed infection was 14.7% (44 cases). A total of 50 patients received vaccine therapy, and although the vaccine produced immune responses, demonstrated by an increase in agglutination titers, it was not associated with improved outcome.ConclusionThe demographics of brucellosis in Georgia fit a profile of persons that tend sheep. Osteoarticular complications were commonly detected, especially in children. The changing pattern of brucellosis in Georgia suggests clinicians should be updated about different trends in brucellosis in their country.
Highlights
Brucellosis is an endemic infection in Georgia
Epidemiologic changes over time Most brucellosis patients (87.6%) were from eastern Georgia, with the most common regions for brucellosis cases being the Kvemo Kartli and Kakheti regions
Brucellosis continues to have a substantial impact on public health in many countries of the world, with particular importance in Georgia
Summary
Brucellosis is an endemic infection in Georgia. Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic infections, with more than 500,000 new cases reported annually worldwide [1]. Before an etiology was determined, brucellosis was known according to endemic geographical areas: Mediterranean fever, Gibraltar fever, Malta fever, Cyprus fever, and Danube fever. The routes of transmission have been known for decades, and campaigns for eradication have been attempted in many countries, the consistently high number of cases reflects the challenges. Brucellosis is caused by infection with Brucella species bacteria. The organism is a pleomorphic, gram-negative, non-spore-forming coccobacillus. They are facultative intracellular pathogens, localized predominantly in organs with numerous macrophages such as lung, spleen, liver, bone marrow, and synovium. There are six recognized species of Brucella, four of which are pathogenic to humans: B melitensis, B, abortus, B. suis, and B. canis [4]
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