What is brucellosis?

Each person eats milk, cheese, meat. Some of the population keeps pets: as friends or as future food. In any status, such animals are carriers of dangerous infectious diseases that can be transmitted to humans.

However, they can cause many complications, which ultimately can lead to rather sad consequences. Brucellosis is one such lesion.

Disease Description

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted from pets to people. It is characterized by lesions of the central nervous system, osteoarticular apparatus, as well as detrimental effects on the heart and blood vessels.

The source of this disease is brucella - microorganisms that have significant resistance to certain environmental influences: high humidity or low temperature.

Their penetration into the human body occurs through the mucous membranes or skin. Then they connect to the cells and intensively develop in them, after which they spread through the lymph nodes and blood vessels throughout the body.

If it enters the bone marrow, spleen, liver or other organs, brucella contributes to the occurrence of infection, which subsequently leads to the formation of changes of a reactive-allergic nature. When infected with other viruses during this disease, there is a high probability of exacerbation and chronicity of the process.

Brucellosis: types of pathogens

At the moment, there are six main types of pathogens of the disease in question:

1. Brucellosis MRS (small cattle) is caused by the pathogen Br. Melitensis and Br. Ovis - for sheep separately.
   
2. Br. abortus suis is inherent in pigs.
3. For cattle, a detrimental bacterium of the species Br. abortus bovis.
4. Br. neotomae - for desert shrub rats. This species is non-pathogenic to humans.
5. Br. canis - for dogs.

In their morphological structure, these bacteria are not too different from each other. Typically, these microorganisms are characterized by:

• round or oval with sizes ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 microns;
• Gram-negative and have the ability to develop on ordinary nutrient media;
• at the first seeding from the body, pathogens form more slowly than with subsequent ones;
• under the influence of antibiotics, brucella can transform into L-forms;
• for such bacteria, the ability to penetrate into the cell and parasitize there is typical;
• which is noteworthy, when they are destroyed, endotoxin is released.

The infection can be destroyed by holding it for 30 minutes at 60 degrees. When boiling, they die immediately. Also, brucella is detrimental to sunlight and substances that are used for disinfection. But at low temperatures they exist for a long time.

Possible ways of infection

Brucellas have microscopic dimensions and strong penetrating properties, which allows them to penetrate the body through the skin, which does not even have defects. Infection of the body is carried out in the following ways:

• in direct contact with infected animals;
• when eating unprocessed meat and dairy products that contain a bacterium;
• in the manufacture of things from the wool and skin of animals;
• airborne droplets;
• in addition, living organisms with their fecal masses pollute the surface with which a person then interacts, resulting in an increased risk of disease.
  

When considering the causes of infection, we can conclude that brucellosis is an occupational disease of people who work with livestock: shepherds, livestock specialists, veterinarians. The greatest likelihood of infection is observed when assisting the animal during the birth process.

Remarkably, livestock brucellosis can be transmitted to another animal or person. But among people, this disease is not transmitted.

Forms of the disease

The incubation period under normal conditions does not exceed 30 days, with the formation of a latent version of the disease - up to 90 days.

There are 4 forms of brucellosis:

1. Sharp. It is characterized by headaches and muscle pains, problems with appetite and sleep, high temperature, which fluctuates greatly in a short period of time. Acute brucellosis is much faster at a young age than in the elderly.
2. Subacute. In addition to the above symptoms, there are problems with joints and muscles, with stools, and an allergic rash is also possible. This form is characterized by periodic febrile conditions. The patient may experience a constant change of mood, pain in the joints and muscle tissue.
3. Chronic The nervous system is highly susceptible to the influence of the disease. As a result, the normal activity of hearing, vision, and body sensitivity may be impaired. In addition, the musculoskeletal system and the genitourinary system suffer.
4. Residental. It is characterized by functional disorders. In particular, it adversely affects the heart and blood vessels, causing various complications in a long period of time.

The phases of the infection

Bacteria after entering the body are captured by macrophages, in them they develop and are sent to the lymph nodes, from where they are distributed throughout the body.

In connection with such activity of brucella, 5 phases of the course of infection can be distinguished:

1. Lymphogenic. Corresponds to the incubation period. The causative agents of the disease can be in the human body for a long time without manifesting themselves.
2. Hematogenous. After the accumulation of a significant proportion of brucella in the lymph nodes, the infection begins to manifest throughout the body.
3. The phase of polyofocal localization. Pathogen cells are captured by the phagocytes of individual organs, resulting in the formation of foci of infection.
4. Phase of exo-focal seeding. Reusable dissemination of brucella is carried out with the formation of changes of a reactive-allergic nature.
5. The phase of metamorphosis. At this stage, either complete resorption of the infection occurs, or the development of persistent cicatricial lesions in the painful organs.

Brucellosis: symptoms in humans, photos of lesions

Every infection has symptoms. And if you know and distinguish the necessary symptoms, then you can avoid various complications.

1. At the early stage of the disease, it is very difficult to diagnose it, since the reaction to brucellosis converges with the symptoms of influenza or other viral diseases: high temperature, which can reach 40 degrees, headache, loss of appetite and weight, weakness.
2. Other signs may appear depending on the type of pathogen: vomiting, diarrhea, the development of abscesses in various organs.
   
3. With the further course of the disease, constant apathy appears, increasing weakness, pain in the joints. All this is accompanied by fluctuations in body temperature, which contributes to a fever and chills.
4. In the acute form, fibrositis and cellulitis in the muscles, allergic reactions, rash, dermatitis, disorders in the vascular system can appear. This phase is especially dangerous for pregnant women, since the disease affects the genitals, which can lead to premature birth or miscarriage.
   
5. The chronic form is characterized by significant deleterious changes in the human body, causing major problems with joints, the genitourinary system, and the body's immunity.

So, this disease is very difficult - brucellosis. Symptoms in a person, a photo and a general description of the state of the body, allow you to immediately calculate the infection to prevent an exacerbation or transition to the chronic stage.

Diagnostics

For the timely detection of the disease, the following diagnostic methods for brucellosis are used:

1. Analysis of the statistics of patients in this region, the figures of which must be confirmed by the fact of eating meat and dairy products from infected animals.
2. A history of complaints in which the symptoms of infection should be reflected.
3. Analysis of blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid and articular fluid for separate nutrient media. If specific bacteria form on them, then this is a confirmation of infection.
4. Testing for sensitivity to certain categories of antibiotics.
5. Wright's reaction. This method is useful in that it is possible to determine the presence of the disease in the first days. The technology is as follows: the blood serum of the infected and dead brucella cells are added to the test tube. If flakes form, then the diagnosis is positive.
6. Sample Brune. Pathogen protein is injected under the skin and the degree of redness of the site is assessed.
7. Polymerase chain reaction method. Detects brucella DNA in body fluids.
   
8. Coombs test. It is used to determine the chronic form. A blood test of the infected person is performed to identify specific antibodies that correspond to the disease.

How to treat brucellosis?

The main task in the treatment of brucellosis is to ensure timely prevention of the further spread of the disease and reduce the severity of symptoms or eliminate them.

At the first manifestations of infection, immediate hospitalization is required. Treatment should be carried out under the close supervision of a physician.

Initially, a course of antibiotics is prescribed: Rifampicin and Doxycycline will need to be taken. In some cases, the use of anti-inflammatory drugs is necessary.

To maintain the immune system at the proper level during the disease, prescribe medications that help increase the body's defenses.

All actions of the treating specialist depend on the stage of the infection and on the individual characteristics of the human body.

In the chronic form, the use of ultra-high-frequency therapy and paraffin bath becomes relevant. A similar method involves finding the patient in spa treatment.

Prevention

To avoid the appearance of brucellosis or at least to some extent reduce the risk of the disease, it is necessary to follow special preventive measures.

The following actions are primarily aimed at preventing infection of farm animals:

• continuous examination of livestock;
• timely isolation of infected individuals;
• systematic vaccination;
• periodic disinfection of premises.

Risk group - people who are often in contact with animals and their products. Particularly exposed to this are veterinary clinic staff. To reduce the risk of infection, you need to:

• follow the sanitary and epidemiological requirements at the enterprise;
• strictly observe hygiene rules: use gloves, respirators, disinfectants, maintain cleanliness in the habitats of individuals;
• preventive vaccinations are needed every two years;
• protect yourself from the use of raw dairy products, as well as those animal products that were purchased from hand.

Consequences and Complications

Brucellosis is the cause of damage to the organs of reproductive function, the central nervous system, liver and other important parts of the human body.

Among the likely negative consequences are:

1. Endocarditis. One of the main factors that leads to the death of patients with brucellosis. Adversely affects the activity of the heart valve.
2. Arthritis. Joint disease. Inflammation from infection causes pain, swelling and reduces movement activity.
3. Infection can also affect the testicles, causing epididymosis with unpleasant sensations in the groin and problems with urination.
4. In case of infection with a liver and spleen, they increase in size, which is accompanied by pain.
5. If the bacteria touched the central nervous system, then the appearance of meningitis and encephalitis - inflammatory processes in the meninges. As a result, partial or complete loss of vision.
6. If a pregnant woman suffers from brucellosis, then the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and abnormal development of the fetus is high.

Those who have been infected with the infection may show residual symptoms: increased sweating, increased irritability, pain and deformities in the joints, which may require surgical intervention to correct.

A death directly from brucellosis is not too common. In most cases, the sad result comes from the complications that have developed.

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that is a fairly strong threat to human health and life. It is dangerous due to the fact that there are no effective means to combat it - you can only stop the symptoms.

The segment of the population that is in close contact with animals is most affected by it. Among those infected, men and women predominate, but even children are often sick.