Zoonotic bacteria

Brucella

Yersinia

Pasteurella

Francisella

Listeria

Spirillum

Streptobacillus
Capnocytophaga
Erysipelothrix

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 Brucella species

Brucella melitensis Sheep & goat

(most pathogenic)

Brucella abortus Cattle

Brucella suis Pigs

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 General features

Gram negative coccobacilli

Facultative, intracellular

Strict aerobes & capnophilic

Non motile & non capsulated

Culture medium - Serum dextrose agar, trypticase soy agar, CAM

Addition of bacitracin, polymyxin, cycloheximide makes selective

Catalase, oxidase, urease & H2S +

Erythritol - stimulating effect on growth

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 Mode of transmission

Ingestion Contaminated meat

or unpasteurized milk

Contact with tissues, blood and

body fluids of infected
animals

Inhalation when working in

the laboratory

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 Pathogenesis
Entry into body

Phagocytosed by PMNs

Resist intracellular killing by

inhibiting O2 burst that
generate free radicals

Transported via lymphatics

to regional lymphnodes

Carried by blood to organs of

reticuloendothelial system

Liver, spleen, kidneys,

bonemarrow & other LN

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 Who is at risk ? Zoonotic disease

Occupational Disease

Cattle ranchers/ dairy farmers

Veterinarians

Meat inspectors

Lab workers

Hunters

Travelers

Consumers of unpasteurized dairy products

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 5 forms of human brucellosis

Subclinical Vague symptoms

H/o contact with raw animal
products or grazing animals

Bacteremic Acute systemic form

Undulant fever, arthritis
May disseminate/ chronic

Serologic Presence of antibodies

Localized Granulomas in organs of RE system

May develop chronic

Chronic Exacerbations and remissions

occurring over months & years

Complications: Meningitis, granulomatous hepatitis, abscesses of liver & spleen,

cholecystitits, endocarditis, erythema nodosum, & chronic skin ulcers

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 Laboratory Diagnosis

Specimens Blood, tissue, pus,

Microscopy Gram negative coccobacilli

Culture Serum dextrose agar – translucent & glistening

Biochemical Catalase, oxidase, urease, H2S positive

reaction

Identification Microscopy & slide agglutination

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 Blood culture

Castaneda’s method – biphasic medium

Avoids contamination and infection to lab worker

Trypticase Soy broth incubated at 370 C under

5-10% CO2. S/C on Solid media every 3-4 days

Blood cultures positive in 30-50% cases

Bone marrow culture gives better isolation rate

Lymph node, CSF, urine, abscess aspirate

culture have also been reported to give positivity

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 Serology Important since blood cultures are often negative

Standard Tube Agglutination test (SAT)

Serial dilutions of serum + Standardized

suspension of B. abortus. 37 C X overnight

Titre of 160 or more is significant

Acute brucellosis titre could be 640 or more

Prozone phenomenon very common.

Remedy: Test continued for higher dilutions

Blocking / Incomplete antibodies common.

Remedy: Preheating serum at 55 C X 30 min /
using 4% saline / Indirect Coombs’ Test

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 Serological response

IgM & IgG antibodies start rising

in 7-10 days of onset

IgM Ab decline while IgG Ab

persist or continue to rise

In chronic infections, IgM

antibodies may often be absent.
Only IgG Ab can be detected

Implications

High agglutinating titres especially

rising titres are diagnostic.

But negative agglutination test may not exclude the infection.

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 Tests for animal brucellosis

Above methods and in addition

Rapid plate agglutination test

Rose Bengal Card test

In dairies, Milk Ring Test on pooled

milk samples

Milk + Stained brucella antigens ->

Agglutination rises to top with cream

to form a ring

Whey agglutination test for Milk

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 Other tests

Brucellin test like tuberculin test indicates prior sensitization or

exposure. Not useful in acute infection. The test itself converts
patient into reactor.

Prophylaxis

Checking brucellosis in dairy animals

Pasteurization of milk

Vaccination of animals

No suitable vaccine for human use

Treatment
Tetracyclines either alone or with Streptomycin for three weeks

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