Abstract
Brucellosis is caused by one of the ten species of the genus Brucella, of which only several can cause human disease. It is among the most widespread zoonoses in the World. The disease is transmitted to humans by contact with fluids from infected animals or derived food products. The mechanisms by which brucellae manifest their pathogenic features are complex. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has a role in evasion of the infected cell and is essential for intracellular survival. Brucellae invade and persist in the host via inhibition of programmed cell death. Despite the high degree of DNA homology within the Brucella genus, molecular typing schemes based on the use of multiple locus variable number of tandem repeats analysis (MLVA) have proven to be able to differentiate unrelated Brucella isolates which could not be differentiated by classical microbiological methods. Due to its high discriminatory power, MLVA has been successfully used for identification of human outbreaks related with a same source of infection, as well as for confirmation of relapse and laboratory acquired infection. Prevention of human brucellosis may be based on prevention of transmission from animal reservoirs to humans and control or eradication of the infection in the reservoir population. Control and prevention programs in animal brucellosis require effective collaboration between all sections of the community and must be properly planned, coordinated and resourced.
In spite of the huge knowledge on the disease until now, many aspects are not yet clarified, like actual taxonomy and the durability and solidness of the immune response after the disease. Also, there is the need of development of better diagnostic techniques and therapeutical options. The production of an effective and acceptable vaccine for use in humans remains as a special challenge in this field.
Keywords
- Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Complement Fixation Test
- Francisella Tularensis
- Human Brucellosis
- Brucella Species
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Bosilkovski, M. (2015). Brucellosis: It is not only Malta!. In: Sing, A. (eds) Zoonoses - Infections Affecting Humans and Animals. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9457-2_11
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