Brucella

Question 1

Basic Characteristics (2)

Answer 1

Gram-Negative

Coccobacilli

(Non-capsulated, Non-motile, Nom-sporing)

Question 2

How to cultivate?

Answer 2

Blood agar (Enriched media) in 5-10% CO2

Question 3

Transmission

Answer 3

Zoonotic

Question 4

Clinical Features (3)

Answer 4

Flu-like illness

Undulant fever —> rises and falls (Mediterranean Fever or Malta Fever)

Multisystem involvement —> Granuloma or Abscess

Question 5

Virulence

Answer 5

INTRACELLULAR bacterium —> survives inside PHAGOCYTE by BLOCKING MYELOPEROXIDASE system

Question 6

Where do they multiply inside the cell?

Answer 6

Endoplasmic Reticulum

Question 7

What is the Two-component regulatory system that controls Intracellular multiplication?

Answer 7

1- BvrR/BvrS

2- Type IV secretion —> VirB —> secretes virulence proteins into host cell

Question 8

Which types are virulent?

Answer 8

With smooth lipopolysaccharides (LPS)

Question 9

Routes of entry

Answer 9

1- Ingestion (unpasteurized milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, contaminated meat)

2- Aerosol

3- Contact with broken skin

Question 10

Who is at greater risk?

Answer 10

Humans in contact with animals (farm workers, vets, abattoir workers)

Question 11

Human-to-human spread?

Answer 11

No

Question 12

How to control infection? (2)

Answer 12

Vaccination of Animals

1- Cattle —> Live B.abortus vaccine

2- Goat —> Live B.melitensis Rev1 vaccine

Slaughtering of infected animals

Question 13

B.abortus

Answer 13

Cattle

Question 14

B. melitensis

Answer 14

Sheep, goats, camels (most common)

Question 15

B.suis

Answer 15

Pigs

Question 16

B.canis

Answer 16

Dogs