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Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffBrucellosis is rare in the United States, with fewer than 200 reported cases each year. These occur mainly in California and Texas.
Other parts of the world have much higher rates of infection, especially the Mediterranean Basin — Portugal, Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, the Near East and North Africa — South and Central America, Mexico, parts of Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition to location, these factors may increase your risk of brucellosis:
- Raw dairy foods. Because the United States has a federal domestic animal health program, the chance of infection from U.S. dairy products is low. Unpasteurized goat milk products imported from Mexico are the main source of brucellosis in the United States. Travelers who eat unpasteurized dairy products in countries where brucellosis is common are at high risk of infection. Soft goat cheeses common in Mediterranean countries are especially likely to contain brucella bacteria. Exotic foods, such as raw camel's milk, sheep placenta and reindeer meat, also may be contaminated. In the United States, people who eat unpasteurized cheeses or who travel to Mexico are at risk of getting brucellosis.
- Animal-related occupation. People who routinely work with animals, including veterinarians, dairy farmers, ranchers and slaughterhouse workers, are at especially high risk.
- Hunting. Hunters may become infected through skin wounds or by eating the undercooked meat of infected animals.
- Laboratory work. Brucellosis is the most common bacterial infection among people who work in laboratories where infectious organisms are grown. Lab workers may accidentally inhale the bacteria or become infected from spilled blood.
References
- Brucellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/Brucellosis_g.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Everett ED. Microbiology, epidemiology, and pathogenesis of Brucella. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Everett ED. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of brucellosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Franco MP, et al. Human brucellosis. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2007;7:775.
- Purwar S. Human brucellosis: A burden of a half-million cases per year. Southern Medical Journal. 2007;100:1074.
- Brucellosis. New York State Department of Health. http://www.health.state.ny.us/diseases/communicable/brucellosis/fact_sheet.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Brucellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases: Division of Bacterial Diseases. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/Brcellosis_t.htm. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Pappas G. Treatment of brucellosis: Regimens containing aminoglycosides are most effective but difficult to implement in practice. BMJ. 2008;336:678.
- Hashmi S, et al. Rare red rash. American Journal of Medicine. 2008;121:862.
- Skalsky K, et al. Treatment of human brucellosis: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ. In press. Accessed Nov. 16, 2008.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Laboratory-acquired brucellosis - Indiana and Minnesota, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2008;57:39Hashmi S, et al. Rare red rash. American Journal of Medicine. 2008;121:862.
- Everett ED. Brucellosis in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Nov. 17, 2008.
- Donch DA, et al. Status report - fiscal year 2007, Cooperative State-Federal Brucellosis Eradication Program. USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/animal_diseases/brucellosis/downloads/yearly_rpt.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2008.
- Vaccine use following brucellosis and pseudorabies eradication. Center for Veterinary Biologics. www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vet_biologics/publications/USAHA_CVB_2007_Handouts.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2008.
