Brucellosis

Brucellosis: symptoms, causes and prevention

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. It is characterized by a long course and damage to the nervous and cardiovascular systems, as well as the osteoarticular system. In this article we will look at the causes of brucellosis, its symptoms, diagnostic methods and prevention.

Causes of brucellosis

Brucellosis most often affects domestic animals - goats, sheep, cows, pigs. Abortions and stillbirths are observed in animals. Brucella is released into the environment with milk, urine of sick animals and uterine secretions (during abortion). The causative agents of brucellosis are also found in the meat of sick animals.

A person becomes infected with brucellosis by consuming raw milk from sick animals and dairy products prepared from it (cheese, butter, cottage cheese, feta cheese), as well as insufficiently cooked and fried meat. Infection can also occur in production related to the processing of leather and wool, as well as when caring for sick animals and through objects contaminated with their secretions. The most frequently affected are milkmaids, cow-calf workers, shepherds, shepherds, veterinarians, and livestock specialists.

Symptoms of brucellosis

The incubation period (latent) lasts from one week to several months, usually 1-3 weeks. Brucellosis is characterized by a variety of clinical symptoms; its course can be of varying degrees of severity.

The disease begins gradually: malaise, insomnia, sometimes irritability, headache, pain in muscles and joints appear, appetite decreases, temperature rises to 37.1-37.3°. More often, brucellosis begins acutely: fever