Suspicion Of Brucellosis Research Articles

Investigation of the Sensitivity and Specificity of Laboratory Tests Used in Differential Diagnosis of Childhood Brucellosis.

Objectives Childhood brucellosis is a common public health problem in developing countries. The diagnosis of brucellosis based on nonspecific symptoms is an ongoing problem for physicians, especially in endemic areas. In this study, it is aimed to discuss the efficacy of frequently used test methods in the differential diagnosis of brucellosis.MethodsThe records of 332 patients admitted to pediatric clinic on suspicion of brucellosis were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with brucellosis were included in the positive group (n = 262) and those without brucellosis were included in the negative group (n = 70).Results As a result of biochemical analysis of the cases, median alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and C reactive protein (CRP) values were significantly higher in the positive group than that in the negative group (p<0.05). There was no significant difference between median white blood cell, neutrophil, lymphocyte, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio, hemoglobin, and platelet values between groups (p>0.05). Receiver operating curves were plotted to compare predictive values of CRP (area under curve (AUC): 0.635, p= 0.001), ESR(AUC:0.701, p<0.001), AST(AUC: 0.595, p=0.015), ALT(AUC:0.604, p=0.007), and GGT(AUC:0.593, p=0.016) in 332 patients with suspected brucellosis.ConclusionsIncreased levels of AST, ALT, GGT, CRP, and ESR may have a complementary role in the differential diagnosis of childhood brucellosis. However, all of these markers should be evaluated with clinical findings due to their low specificity and sensitivity.

Human brucellosis in a non-susceptible host: a case report

Clinical human brucellosis is quite rare in India, that too in an non susceptible host. This report describes a case of clinical human brucellosis in India. This case involved a 36 years old male, a professor in an Engineering college. He presented with complaints of fever for 4 months with myalgia, generalized tiredness, loss of weight and loss of appetite. On evaluation, total counts and ESR was elevated and all other investigations were normal. Based on history, common causes like occult tuberculosis or autoimmune diseases were considered. But, blood cultures grew Brucella melitensis in all 2 samples and a diagnosis of brucellosis was made. He was treated with Rifampicin and Doxycycline. Suspicion of brucellosis in this patient is low because the patient has no history of contact with animals, consumption of unpasteurized milk or occupational exposure. So, the health care practitioners should be aware of this possibility of this zoonotic infection as a differential diagnosis in patients with nonspecific symptoms and unexplained prolonged fever.

Detection of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in patients with suspicion of brucellosis and atypical pneumonia by ELISA and IFA methods

Detection of Coxiella burnetii antibodies in patients with suspicion of brucellosis and atypical pneumonia by ELISA and IFA methods

Screening Household Members of Acute Brucellosis Cases in Endemic Areas and Risk Factors for Brucellosis.

Early diagnosis and treatment of acute brucellosis cases were targeted by screening the household members of the index cases. We also aimed to describe the causal relations of brucellosis in an endemic region. A cross-sectional study was performed among household members (29 index cases, 113 household members). Brucellosis was diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, serum agglutinin titer of ≥1/160 in standard tube agglutination test (STA), or a positive blood culture. Index cases were defined as patients who had been admitted to the clinic on suspicion of brucellosis and then confirmed as brucellosis cases. The people who lived in the same house as the index cases were defined as household members. The risk factors for seropositivity were studied by multivariate analysis. Independent variables of gender, consuming fresh cheese, blood groups, dealing with husbandry, and contact with the placenta of infected animals were included to the model. Backward and forward selections were performed. Nineteen out of 113 (17%) screened individuals had agglutination titers ≥1/160. The mean ages of index cases and household members were 43 years (standard deviation [SD] 18) and 29 years (SD 19), respectively. In multivariate analysis, consuming fresh cheese (odds ratio [OR]=3.1, confidence interval [CI] 1.07-9.68, p=0.049), blood group A (OR=2.6, CI 1.18-5.96, p=0.018), contact with the placenta of the infected animals (OR=3.7, CI 1.42-9.68, p=0.007), and age >30 years (OR=2.8, CI 1.25-6.51, p=0.13) were found to be associated with brucellosis. In univariate analysis, the individuals with blood group B were protected from brucella infection (p=0.013). In conclusion, screening of the people in brucellosis-endemic areas should be considered for early diagnosis and treatment. To our knowledge, blood groups were studied for the first time by this study. Higher prevalence of brucellosis among the individuals with blood group A and less prevalence among the individuals with blood group B should be considered for further studies on pathogenesis.

PUNCTURE OF BOAR’S EPIDIDYMIS FOR DIAGNOSING PORCINE BRUCELLOSIS

In Serbia, mostly along the Danube, Morava and Mlava rivers, in animals reared under extensive conditions a disease named “rednja” may be detected. In the settlements where abortion is diagnosed all the sows mate with one boar that is infected with brucellosis. The Veterinary Program designs the control of Brucellosis twice a year, but the boars raised in extensive system are not controled and they are not registered. The causative agent was only recently isolated, confirmed and typed as Brucella suis biotype 2 (7). The owners have not reported the cases of abortion because they had thought that the reason are mechanical injuries that occur during feeding and drinking. After the visit of a vet a suspicion of brucellosis is notified. The symptoms of this disease are nonspecific. Only after abortion and if the swelling of boar scrotum occurs Brucellosis can be suspected. Brucellosis can be diagnosed in pigs by clinical examination, isolation, identification and typing of pathogens, serological and biological examination. Blood sampling is usually done in the case of abortion for serology examination, and also the placenta or aborted foetus is used for determining the cause. In addition to the above mentioned, the most important samples for bacteriological examination are the mandibular, retropharyngeal and supramamary lymph nodes, boar semen, i.e. testis after castration. All these samples cannot be taken when the reports on abortion are untimely. This means, only blood samples for serological examination can be taken. However, the literature does not mention epididymal puncture as a possible sample that is important for bacteriological examination, in addition to blood sampling from live animals. When the boars are fixed for blood sampling, the puncture of the epididymis can also be carried out for isolation of Brucella suis. After the disinfection, a sterile needle is stitched about 1 cm in depth and about 1-2 ml of the content is aspirated. Occassional sanies does not interfere the testing. The material can be frozen and examined when there the conditions are favourable and the laboratory available. Epididymal puncture is recommended as a safe and reliable way of sampling the diseased animals for the isolation and identification of Brucella suis biotype 2. During the bacteriological examination it was found that other bacterial species did not affect the growth of Brucella suis.

Serological evidence for brucellosis in Bos indicus in Nigeria

Nigeria is the largest cattle-rearing nation in Africa with most animals kept under traditional husbandry practices. While bovine brucellosis does not receive much attention, a relatively high seroprevalence is found in samples submitted for laboratory testing. The aim of the study was to provide serological evidence of brucellosis in cattle from some of the main cattle-rearing states of the country and to validate a simple and rapid field test for the serodiagnosis of bovine brucellosis. Serum samples collected in various states of Nigeria from cattle because of suspicion of brucellosis were investigated in the Rose Bengal plate test, and results were compared with a newly developed rapid field test for the detection of Brucella-specific antibodies. Serological evidence for the presence of brucellosis in cattle was obtained for all states included in the study and a high herd prevalence was observed. The seroprevalence was also high among trade and slaughter animals. Results of a rapid field test for the serodiagnosis of bovine brucellosis correlated well with the Rose Bengal plate test (agreement, 95.7%; kappa value, 0.80). The results indicate that bovine brucellosis is an important veterinarian problem in Nigeria. The easy-to-use and robust field test is most promising for field-based surveillance as it provides an immediate result allowing the prompt instigation of control measures.