Brucellosis: An Outpatient Non-Probability Retrospective Study of 199 Patients

Background: A descriptive study of the characteristics of brucellosis patients in Jordan and antimicrobial therapy. Methods: In an outpatient study, records were reviewed between July 2016 and April 2024 and electronically saved. Brucella diagnosis was based on epidemiological factors, risk factors, the standard tube agglutination test (STA), and blood or tissue cultures. Records were uploaded into a spreadsheet and imported into the R-Program. A 2-sample Kruskal-Wallis rank sum tested the equality of proportions between two treatment regimens for all available and spondylodiscitis, P Results: Two hundred patients with Brucellosis were analyzed;males 106 (53%) with a mean age of 46.8 years, and females 94 (47%) with a mean age of 48.1 years. Patients from Jordan were 159 (79.9%), and the Arabian Peninsula 25 (12.6%). Brucellosis was a non-focal presentation in 121 (60.50%) patients, spondylodiscitis in 64 (32.0%), and sacroiliitis in 7 (3.5%). Spondylodiscitis involved lumbar 48 (75.0%), thoracic 11 (17.20%), and cervical 5 (7.8%). STA was a common diagnostic method (188, 94%). Risk factors included cheese 80 (47.3%), cattle, small ruminants, and she-camel milk 37 (21.89%), dairy products 28 (16.57%), meat 9 (05.33%), and working with cattle 10 (05.92%). ESR was highest in spondylodiscitis (mean of 54.5). Imaging studies commonly requested were MRI and Bone scans. Doxycycline/Rifampin were mostly prescribed antimicrobials. Conclusion: There is no clear guidance on brucella treatment. In endemic areas, brucella is still a concern. Population education must be a priority. Support for randomized trials addressing antimicrobials and durations is extremely needed.

Intravoxel incoherent motion and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI for assessing abnormalities of brucellosis spondylitis without conventional MRI changes

Objective To observe the value of intravoxel incoherent motion(IVIM)and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI(DCE-MRI)for assessing abnormalities of brucellosis spondylitis(BS)without conventional MRI changes.Methods Data of 36 brucellosis patients with definite spinal lesions displayed on conventional MRI(BS 1 group),14 cases without brucellosis infection nor abnormal spinal signals on MRI(control group)and 36 brucellosis patients without definite spinal lesions on conventional MRI(BS 2 group)were retrospectively analyzed.The values of IVIM parameters,including perfusion fraction(f),pure water diffusion coefficient(D)and pseudo-diffusion coefficient(D*),also of DCE-MRI parameters,including time-intensity curve(TIC)type,volume transport constant(K trans),the rate constant(K ep)and volume fraction of extravascular extracellular space per unit tissue volume(V e)were compared among groups.Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to screen independent factors for discriminating BS 1 and BS 2.Receiver operating characteristic curves were drawn,and the areas under the curve(AUC)were calculated to evaluate the efficiency of the above parameters for discriminating BS 1 and BS 2.Results Among IVIM parameters,compared with control group,D*values decreased but D values increased in BS 1 group,while D*values increased in BS 2 group(all adjusted P<0.05).Compared with BS 2 group,BS 1 group had higher values of f and D and lower D*(all adjusted P<0.05).In BS 1 group,the TIC types were predominantly typeⅠ(23/36,63.89%),which were wholly or predominantly typeⅢin BS 2 group and control group,and of the former was significantly different with latter 2(both adjusted P<0.05).Compared with control group,K trans increased progressively in both BS 1 and BS 2 groups(both adjusted P<0.05).BS 1 group had lower K ep and higher V e than BS 2 and control groups(all adjusted P<0.05).Among univariate logistic regression models,the model including only f had lower capability for discriminating BS 1 and BS 2(AUC=0.759)than those including D,K trans and V e(AUC=0.951,0.833,0.894,all P<0.05).No significant different was found among multivariate logistic regression model including f and D,model including K trans and V e nor model including all above parameters(all P>0.05).Conclusion Both IVIM and DCE-MRI could be used to evaluate BS abnormality without conventional MRI changes.

Brucellosis presenting with pancytopenia and hearing loss:A case report

BACKGROUND Brucellosis is one of the most common zoonotic infectious diseases in the world,with approximately 500000 new cases of human brucellosis diagnosed each year.Brucellosis can simulate various multi-system diseases,presenting atypical symptoms.Very few brucellosis cases with pancytopenia accompanied by a severe hearing loss have been reported.In the literature review,we could find only one similar case reported in the past.Moreover,this disease is easily misdiagnosed as a blood system disease leading to delayed treatment.Thus,it is important to improve clinicians'awareness of this disease.CASE SUMMARY A 64-year-old woman presented with dizziness and fatigue,accompanied by pancytopenia and severe hearing loss.Brucella melitensis was identified on blood culture.Anti-infective therapy with rifampicin(900 mg/d)and doxycycline(100 mg twice a day)was prescribed for 4 mo along with ceftriaxone 2 g/d for 1 mo.The patient showed a good response to antibiotic therapy.Her blood counts returned to normal followed by significant improvement in hearing.CONCLUSION Brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with pancytopenia and hearing loss.

Periprosthetic knee joint infection caused by Brucella melitensis which was first-osteoarticular brucellosis or osteoarthrosis:A case report

BACKGROUND Brucellosis is the most common zoonosis worldwide and is endemic in the Middle East,Africa,Asia,and Latin America.However,it is uncommon in Central Europe,and periprosthetic infections caused by Brucella are therefore rare.Due to the low prevalence and nonspecific clinical presentation of the disease,accurate diagnosis can be challenging;no gold standard currently exists for treating brucellosis.CASE SUMMARY Here,we present a 68-year-old Afghan woman living in Austria with a periprosthetic knee infection caused by Brucella melitensis.The interval from total knee arthroplasty to septic loosening was five years.A profound medical history and examinations suggested that the patient had been suffering from unrecognized chronic osteoarticular brucellosis prior to total knee arthroplasty.She was successfully treated by two-stage revision surgery and combined antibiotic therapy over three months.CONCLUSION Clinicians should consider brucellosis as a possible cause of chronic arthralgia and periprosthetic infection in patients originating from countries with a high brucellosis burden.

Epidemiological Investigation of Brucellosis Spondylitis and Optimal Selection of Clinical Drug Compatibility, Treatment Course and Treatment Plan

Background: Brucellosis is a zoonotic endemic disease, the main source of infection is infected cattle, sheep, pigs and their products. In recent years, the global incidence of brucellosis spondylitis has increased year by year, and it has spread from pastoral areas to semi-agricultural and semi-pastoral areas, agricultural areas and cities. It has changed from a mainly occupational disease to a mainly food-borne disease, and it is also a zoonotic specific spinal infectious disease that WHO and governments around the world pay great attention to. Due to the low cure rate and high recurrence rate of traditional drug therapy regimen. Therefore, to carry out epidemiological investigation and Related research on clinical drug therapy of brucellosis spondylitis has practical significance for improving diagnosis rate, cure rate and reducing recurrence rate. Objective: To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of Brucellosis spondylitis and explore the choice of drugs and the best drug treatment plan, so as to provide scientific basis for improving the prevention and control of the disease and treatment effect. Methods: Clinical epidemiodogical materials were collected from 113 patients with brucellar spondylitis. All these patients were divided into 5 different groups according to 5 kinds of drugs adopted respectively, and then the patients were given different course of treatment. Results: In the 113 patients, brucellar spondylitis morbility of female patients were higher than that of male ones, and the morbility of Bashang were higher than that of Baxia. These patients were infected mainly through browsing and breeding beasts. Lumbars were the major focus of infection. It was very comnlon that two adjacent lumbars were involved in concurrently. L4 was the most common infection location and its demolishment was most serious. The curative effect of group treated with doxycycline was better than that of group treated without doxycycline. If the course of treatment Was increased, the curative effect Was not increased obviously. Conclusions: There are characteristic features in clinical epidemiology of brucell spondylitis. Doxycycline + Rifampicin + Sulfamethoxazole was used as the preferred antibiotic. Using antibiotics adequately and jointly by two courses of treatment for a long time is the most reasonable way to treat the disease and prevent the disease from recurrence.

Treatment Outcomes in COVID-19 Patients with Brucellosis:Case Series in Heilongjiang and Systematic Review of Literature

Objective Clinical characteristics and outcome in COVID-19 with brucellosis patients has not been well demonstrated,we tried to analyze clinical outcome in local and literature COVID-19 cases with brucellosis before and after recovery.Methods We retrospectively collected hospitalization data of comorbid patients and prospectively followed up after discharge in Heilongjiang Infectious Disease Hospital from January 15,2020 to April29,2022.Demographics,epidemiological,clinical symptoms,radiological and laboratory data,treatment medicines and outcomes,and follow up were analyzed,and findings of a systematic review were demonstrated.Results A total of four COVID-19 with brucellosis patients were included.One patient had active brucellosis before covid and 3 patients had nonactive brucellosis before brucellosis.The median age was54.5 years,and all were males(100.0%).Two cases(50.0%)were moderate,and one was mild and asymptomatic,respectively.Three cases(75.0%)had at least one comorbidity(brucellosis excluded).All4 patients were found in COVID-19 nucleic acid screening.Case C and D had only headache and fever on admission,respectively.Four cases were treated with Traditional Chinese medicine,western medicines for three cases,no adverse reaction occurred during hospitalization.All patients were cured and discharged.Moreover,one case(25.0%)had still active brucellosis without re-positive COVID-19,and other three cases(75.0%)have no symptoms of discomfort except one case fell fatigue and anxious during the follow-up period after recovery.Conducting the literature review,two similar cases have been reported in two case reports,and were both recovered,whereas,no data of follow up after recovery.Conclusion These cases indicate that COVID-19 patients with brucellosis had favorable outcome before and after recovery.More clinical studies should be conducted to confirm our findings.

Financial Losses Associated with Bovine Brucellosis (Brucella abortus) in Carchi-Ecuador

Brucellosis is an infectious disease of worldwide distribution, which has a great economic impact due to the productive and reproductive losses that it causes, in addition to the serious public health problem. The aim of this study is to estimate the economic losses, through financial analysis, caused by bovine brucellosis in the province of Carchi, over a one-year period. A random sampling was used to determine the prevalence in the study area, where 2976 animals were considered, and the Rose Bengal (RB) test was used as a screening test and the Fluorescence Polarized Assay (FPA) as a confirmatory test, obtaining a prevalence of 8.2% (244/2976). In addition, parameters associated to the losses caused by brucellosis in cattle were determined by literature review. To estimate costs, field information was collected through a survey of a total of 100 randomly selected farmers. The loss estimated due to calves lost as a result of abortions and neonatal death was USD. 79170.00. The loss due to death of 4 cows as a result of metritis was estimated at USD. 5000.00. The cost of examination and treatment of aborted cows was USD. 20100.00. The losses due to reduction in milk production from aborted and non-aborted seropositive cows were estimated at USD. 158114.21. The financial losses due to brucellosis in province of Carchi were estimated at USD. 262384.21.

“Typhoidal Cells”Appear in a Woman with Hemophagocytic Syndrome Secondary To Brucellosis:A Case Report

We report a case of hemophagocytic syndrome(HPS)secondary to brucellosis,in which typhoidal cells were found in bone marrow,suggesting typhoidal cells present not only in Salmonella typhi infections but also in other bacterial infections.Typhoidal cells in bone marrow can be used to quickly identify the presence of bacterial infection pending the results of bone marrow and/or blood cultures.

Establishment and Clinical Application of Multidisciplinary Collaborative Rapid Rehabilitation Nursing Pathway in Perioperative Period of Brucellosis Spondylitis

Objective: To study the establishment and clinical application of multidisciplinary collaborative rapid rehabilitation nursing model in patients with brucellosis spondylitis during the perioperative period. Method: From January 2009 to January 2013, 39 patients diagnosed with brucellosis spondylitis were treated with focal clearance combined with posterior pedicle internal fixation. Nursing was randomly divided into 2 groups: 19 cases of routine nursing as the control group (group A);20 cases of implementation of the nursing path as the intervention group (group B). In the intervention group, analgesic nursing plan, daily activity ability training path, medication compliance and health education path were used to effectively intervene on the evaluation parameters affecting rapid recovery and clinical efficacy (VAS score, daily activity ability mastery, Oswestry disability index and medication Morisky-Green index). The nursing effect and clinical evaluation of the two groups were compared. Results: As time went by, VAS pain score, mastery of daily activity ability, Oswestry disability index and medication compliance between the two groups at the same time point were significantly different (P Conclusions: The nursing path of brucellosis spondylitis is positively correlated with rapid recovery and clinical efficacy. Compared with routine nursing, it has a significant effect on accelerating postoperative rehabilitation and clinical efficacy.

Brucellosis,a diagnostic dilemma,presenting atypically in a child with terminal ileitis:A case report

BACKGROUND Brucellosis is endemic in India with seropositivity rates as high as 10%in children in the eastern states,yet the disease is not on the radar when a differential diagnosis of pyrexia of unknown origin(PUO)is being considered,especially in children in urban set-up.This may be because of the non-specific multitude of systemic symptoms seen in this disease and the lack of awareness among clinicians.CASE SUMMARY We present a case of a 13-year-old boy,who came with a history of undulating fever for the past three and a half months,loss of appetite,and abdominal pain.The child had visited several pediatricians and was even admitted to a tertiary care hospital for PUO evaluation,but to no avail.He presented to us after three and half months of suffering and weight loss of more than 10%of body weight.His ultrasonography revealed thickening of the terminal ileum.His blood culture grew Brucella melitensis.A diagnosis of Brucellosis with terminal ileitis was made.Brucella serology by enzyme-linked immunoassay(ELISA)was positive for both IgG and IgM.He was treated with doxycycline and Rifampicin along with syrup multivitamin and zinc,for 6 wk.There was remarkable improvement with gain in 4 kg body weight within 2 mo of completing treatment.History revealed consumption of unpasteurized milk and contact with cattle.CONCLUSION Clinical suspicion,detailed history,appropriate laboratory investigations are the three pillars for diagnosing Brucellosis in patients presenting with vague symptoms.

Seroprevalence of Brucellosis Disease and Lumpy Skin Disease on Cattles at Svay Rieng and Prey Veng Province, Cambodia

LSD (Lumpy Skin Disease) is a poxviral disease with significant morbidity in cattle and belongs to the family Poxviridae and the genus Capripoxvirus and is transmitted by hematophagous arthropod vectors. Despite the typically low mortality rate, economic costs arise from deterioration in health, decreased milk production, miscarriages, infertility and harmed hides. Brucellosis disease is one of the most common contagious and communicable zoonotic diseases with high rates of morbidity and lifetime sterility. Serological tests with ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays) indicate exposure to Brucella and LSD in cattle. To identify the presence of those diseases, the research was conducted in two provinces, Svay Rieng and Prey Veng, in Cambodia, starting from July 2021 to January 2022. In the study, the 2018 Thusfield method was adopted, and two cattle were selected from 216 households in the two provinces (112 in Svay Rieng and 104 in Prey Veng). However, not all the families had two cattle, so the total sample size was 300 cattle (227 in Svay Rieng and 73 in Prey Veng). As a result, there was only one brucellosis disease case in Svay Rieng Province, while that disease was not found at all in Prey Veng. Meanwhile, LSD was higher in Prey Veng (80% of the tested cattle) than in Svay Rieng (69%). Among all of the tested cattle, 66.7% had the highest BS (Body Score = 4). The finding suggests that LSD was prevalent in the studied areas, which may cause economic losses. Thus, preventive measures should be taken properly to tackle this issue. Although Brucellosis was a rare case in the studied areas, it may spread faster, causing abortion in cattle and women. Biosecurity is needed to ensure a strict control over this disease.

Risk Assessment of Diary Cattle Brucellosis Based on Systematic Multilevel Grey Relation Entropy Method

[Objective] The study was to explore the major factors affecting diary cattle brucellosis risk assessment,as well as their strong-to-weak sequence,so as to provide theoretical basis for assessing diary cattle brucellosis risk level in different regions.[Method] From 4 dimensions of feeding and importing,breeding,housing and polyculture situation,an evaluation index system was set up,and diary cattle brucellosis risk survey was conducted in 3 typical regions.Finally,systematic multilevel grey relation entropy method was applied to perform data analysis.[Result] The strong-to-weak sequence of Level 1 impact factor of diary cattle brucellosis was as follows：feeding and importinghousingpolyculture situationbreeding;the sequence of Level 2 impact factor was U32〉U12〉U11〉U31〉U21〉U42〉U43〉U23〉U22〉U41;the risk level sequence of 3 typical regions was Province A（County A1,A2,A3）Province B（County B1,B2,B3）Province C（County C1,C2,C3）.[Conclusion] According to the weight of Level 1 index strata,administrative departments at all levels and dairy cattle farmers should lay emphasis on the aspects of feeding,importing and housing;viewed from the perspective of Level 2 index strata,dairy cattle farmers should value the siting of cattle field,the brucellosis surveillance before importing and milking modes most.According to the diary cattle brucellosis risk level of 3 typical regions,if administrative departments at all levels strengthen peoples＇ awareness of their personal health and increase investment in this area,with new healthy cultured atmosphere built,the risk level of diary cattle brucellosis will surly decline.

Epidemiological, laboratory, diagnostic and public health aspects of human brucellosis in western Iran

Objective:To determine brucellosis's epidemiologic,laboratory,diagnostic and public health features considering brucellosis is endemic in Azna County,western Iran.Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study was investigated on 43 patients with brucellosis in Azna County. The subjects were the patients with symptoms correspondent with brucellosis and positive Wright and 2ME tests. A questionnaire about demographic,epidemiological and laboratory findings was filled in. Afterwards,patients were treated using usual antimicrobial drugs regimen. The collected data were analyzed by SPSS software version 16.Results:Forty-three subjects were found to be positive in laboratory tests. Incidence of Brucellosis was 59.31 per hundred thousand population. About 34.9% of patients were female and 65.1%male. Nearly 95.2% of human cases were living in rural and 4.8%in urban areas. Around 20.9%of patients had history of animal contact. The commonest transmission was unpasteurized dairy products(79.1%). The most contagious seasons were summer and spring(60.3%). The most common age group was 15-24(27.9%),and about 60.5%of the patients were between 15-44 years old. Disease was more common among housewives(30.2%) and farmers(20.9%). The majority of the patients had Wright test titre=1:320(54.1%) and 2ME test titre=1:160(56.1%) in serological titration.Doxycycline with Rifampin was used for treatment of the greatest of patients(60.4%).Conclusions:In order to control this zoonotic disease,close cooperation of health and veterinary organizations is necessary.

Osteoarticular manifestations of human brucellosis:A review

Brucellosis is a common global zoonotic disease, which is responsible for a range of clinical manifestations. Fever, sweating and musculoskeletal pains are observed in most patients. The most frequent complication of brucellosis is osteoarticular involvement, with 10% to 85% of patients affected. The sacroiliac(up to 80%) and spinal joints(up to 54%) are the most common affected sites.Spondylitis and spondylodiscitis are the most frequent complications of brucellar spinal involvement. Peripheral arthritis, osteomyelitis, discitis, bursitis and tenosynovitis are other osteoarticular manifestations, but with a lower prevalence. Spinal brucellosis has two forms: focal and diffuse. Epidural abscess is a rare complication of spinal brucellosis but can lead to permanent neurological deficits or even death if not treated promptly. Spondylodiscitis is the most severe form of osteoarticular involvement by brucellosis, and can have single-or multifocal involvement. Early and appropriate diagnosis and treatment of the disease is important in order to have a successful management of the patients with osteoarticular brucellosis. Brucellosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for sciatic and back pain, especially in endemic regions. Patients with septic arthritis living in endemic areas also need to be evaluated in terms of brucellosis. Physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging techniques are needed to diagnose the disease. Radiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) and bone scintigraphy are imaging techniques for the diagnosis of osteoarticular brucellosis. MRI is helpful to differentiate between pyogenic spondylitis and brucellar spondylitis. Drug medications(antibiotics)and surgery are the only two options for the treatment and cure of osteoarticular brucellosis.

Control of animal brucellosis: the Malaysian experience

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease characterized by reproductive failure in animals and undulent fever in humans. In cattle, it is caused by Brucella abortus while in goats by Brucella melitensis, the main cause of brucellosis in humans. Brucellosis in livestock has been associated with importation of animals from breeder herd of unknown disease status. The prevalence of bovine brucellosis Brucella abortus in 2014 ranged between 1%-2% in Thailand and Indonesia, and 4%-5% in Malaysia and Myanmar. Prevalence of goat brucellosis Brucella melitensis is approximately 1% in Malaysia and Thailand. ‘Test-and-slaughter' is the general policy against brucellosis adopted by most ASEAN countries to eradicate the disease. Under this program, the Rose Bengal Plate Test(RBPT) is used as the screening test to identify infected farm/herd while the Complement Fixation Test(CFT) is the confirmatory test. The test-and-slaughter eradication strategy that was implemented since 1979 had managed to keep the prevalence rate to less than 5%, from 3.3% in 1979, 0.23% in 1988, 1% in 1998 and 5% in 2016. The test-and-slaughter program seemed effective in reducing the prevalence of brucellosis but was unable to eradicate the disease due to several factors, which include failure to locate and identify the remaining affected animals and to control their movement, importation of breeder animals from non-brucellosis free countries and lack of participation by the farmers following unrealiable test results. To support the eradication policy, research activities since 1980 s have suggested combinations of serological tests to improve diagnosis while surveillance should be focused on hotspots areas. The prevalence can be further reduced by strictly sourcing breeder animals from brucella-free areas or countries.

Brucellosis and tuberculosis:Clinical overlap and pitfalls

Objective:To identify characteristic features of tuberculosis in patients with culture proven brucellosis.Methods:A retrospective analysis was performed on patients diagnosed with culture proven brucellosis between January and December 2011,based on review of their medical records.Patients with demonstrable co-infection with tuberculosis were excluded.Clinical features,laboratory parameters and tissue histopathology reports where available were noted.Results:Thirty-two patients with brucellosis were included in the study.Twenty-one(65.63%)patients had chronic fever,thirteen(40.63%)had a productive cough,while significant weight loss,evening rise of temperature and night sweats were reported by eight(25.00%),eleven(34.38%)and five(15.63%)patients respectively.Nine(28.13%)patients had at least three of these symptoms.Lymphadenopathy,hepatomegaly and splenomegaly were noted on examination in seven(21.88%),fifteen(46.88%)and twelve(37.50%)patients respectively.Eight(25.00%)patients had hepatosplenomegaly,of these only two had associated significant lymphadenopathy.Respiratory examination was normal in all patients.Elevated ESR greater than 50 mm/hr was seen in eight(25.00%),it was greater than 100 mm/hr in five(15.63%)patients.Hypergammaglobulinemia was seen in eight(25.00%)cases.Bone marrow biopsy showed non-caseating granulomas in three(9.38%)cases,lymph node biopsy showed granulomas in one case.Overall,three(9.38%)patients had known risk factors for tuberculosis,while six(18.75%)had risk factors for brucellosis.Conclusions:There is a clear overlap between brucellosis and tuberculosis both in terms of clinical presentation and laboratory parameters.It is essential to c-arefully rule out tuberculosis in all cases of suspected or proven brucellosis before initiating antimicrobial therapy,in order to forestall development of drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Unusual presentation of Brucellosis:Afebrile,culture positive Brucellosis and culture positive,seronegative Brucellosis

Objective:To investigate the unusual presentation of brucellosis.Methods:This prospective study was carried out on 46 patients suspected to brucellosis.The diagnosis was made with isolation of brucella species by Bone Marrow culture.Results:Among 40 culture positive patients,there were two unusual presentations of brucellosis: Afebrile culture positive and culture positive seronegative brucellosis.Conclusion:Some brucellosis patients would not match with criteria for diagnosis of brucellosis.Although it is needed to have positive serology or culture for diagnosis of brucellosis but sometimes,it is the clinical experiences,which help to diagnose and treat these kinds of patients.

Brucellosis: Pathophysiology and new promising treatments with medicinal plants and natural antioxidants

Brucellosis is an old, infectious and common zoonosis whose causative agents are Gramnegative bacteria from the Brucella genus. Brucellosis is transmitted through direct contactwith infected animals or using unpasteurized dairy products of goats, pigs, camels, sheep,buffalo and cows. Brucellosis is still the most common zoonosis in the world, with mostof cases occurring in developing countries. Today, an approach to traditional medicine andmedicinal plants, especially with regards to the repeated recommendations of the World HealthOrganization, is a necessity. One-third of chemical drugs are produced by using plants andthere is a high potential to produce more drugs from plants. Medicinal plants are helpful inthe management of various conditions, especially bacterial diseases. Although there is notenough scientific evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness of herbal drugs for the treatmentof brucellosis, there is strong evidence on the antimicrobial effects of herbal drugs to preventinfection. Therefore, this article seeks to describe the antibacterial effects of some plantderived essential oils or extracts, so that they can serve as promising choices to develop newanti-Brucella medications, as suitable alternatives to conventional antibiotics for brucellosis, asmuch as possible, taking into account the benefits of these herbal drugs.

Etiological role of brucellosis in autoimmune hepatitis

To show that brucellosis may trigger autoimmune hepatitis(AIH), in addition to nonspecific liver involvement and toxic hepatitis, due to a class effect of tetracycline family used for treatment. We present a female patient admitted to our hospital due to partially improved fatigue and elevated liver enzymes following doxycycline and streptomycin usage for brucellosis. Brucellosis is endemic in our country, Turkey. It may involve any organ in the body. Liver is frequently involved. Doxycycline used for treatment occasionally may lead to hepatotoxicity. AIH is a necroinflammatory disease of the liver. Certain drugs (e.g. Minocycline), toxins, and viruses (hepatitis B, hepatitis C, EBV, etc.) can trigger AIH. Only one case of AIH probably caused by doxycycline and brucellosis was reported. We discuss the relationship between brucellosis, AIH, and hepatotoxicity of doxycycline. Brucellosis may trigger AIH.

Seroprevalence of <i>Brucella</i>Antibodies and Risk Factors Associated with Human Brucellosis in High-Risk Occupational Groups of the Noun Division in the West Region of Cameroon

Brucellosis is an anthropozoonotic disease with an important public health impact. Although the transmission of Brucella from animals to humans can occur in different epidemiological settings of sub-Saharan African countries, little data has been published on human brucellosis. This study aimed to detect Brucella antibodies and the risk factors associated to brucellosis among high-risk occupational groups of people in the Noun Division of Cameroon. For this study, a structured questionnaire was used to assess risk factors associated with human brucellosis. Thereafter, blood samples were collected from high-risk occupational groups of people in four villages. Plasma was extracted from each sample and Brucella antibodies were detected using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (i-ELISA). Of the 273 participants enrolled, the overall seroprevalence of Brucella antibodies was 12.45% with RBPT and 10.26% with i-ELISA test. This seroprevalence was significantly (P = 0.04;X2 = 9.73) higher among livestock herdsmen (15.8%), slaughterhouse workers (9.8%), butchers (4.8%), participants having no educational level (14.3%) and those experiencing above 5 years of risky activity (15%). Raw milk consumption (OR: 4.8;P = 0.001), no formal education (OR: 6.4;P = 0.03) and assistance of animal during parturition (OR: 7.2;P < 0.0001) appeared as factors that may increase the risk of Brucella infections. The detection of Brucella antibodies indicates the risk of human brucellosis in some groups of people of the Noun division. Consuming unpasteurized milk, participating in parturition and lacking knowledge on brucellosis appeared as risk factors associated with human brucellosis in western Cameroon. It raises the need of developing and implementing control measures for human and animal brucellosis.