Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella canis , which was spreading among dogs in the UK, has now been transmitted to three British citizens. In dogs, the disease is untreatable; however, in humans, effective treatment through an extended regimen of antibiotics is available. Transmission to humans Direct contact with infected dogs or their body fluids, blood products, or reproductive tissues Human-to-human transmission is rare.
Symptoms in humans Chills, malaise, undulant fever, weakness, weight loss, peripheral lymphadenomegaly, and splenomegaly Diagnosis in humans Often complicated due to nonspecific symptoms and a low index of suspicion Methods available: Culture from blood, bone marrow, or other body fluid samples and serological tests Treatment Effective antibiotics for treating humans include doxycycline, streptomycin, and rifampicin. As no vaccine is available, the…
