Brucellosis Symptoms in Humans
- Brucellosis Main Page
- Brucellosis Surveillance Requirements
- Establishment of Designated Surveillance Area (DSA)
- Brucellosis Surveillance Requirements in DSA
- Brucellosis Symptoms in Cattle
- How Cattle are Exposed to Brucellosis
- Greater Yellowstone Area Risk Survey
Abattoir workers, meat inspectors, animal handlers, veterinarians, and laboraroians represent the groups most at risk for infection with brucellosis. In the United States, less than 1 case per 200,000 population occurs. Most cases are reported in California, Florida, Texas, and Virginia.
The infection is commonly transmitted through abrasions of the skin from handling infected animals. In the United States, it occurs most frequently by ingesting unpasterized milk or dairy products. Brucellosis is highly infectious via aerosolization and is considered a bioterrorism agent.
Acute symptoms (less than 8 weeks from illness onset) include nonspecific and flu-like symptoms including fever, sweats, malaise, anorexia, headache, myalgia, and back pain. In the undulant form (less than 1 year from illness onset), symptoms include undulant fevers, arthritis, and epididymo-orchitis in males. Neurologic symptoms may occur acutely in up to 5% of cases. In the chronic form (greater than 1 year from onset), symptoms may include chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, and arthritis.