The prevention and control of domesticated animal brucellosis

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by a number of bacteria in the genus Brucella. In animals, classical Brucella species naturally affiliate with mammals in which they cause epididymitis and orchitis in males and abortion storms in pregnant females. Because Brucella proliferates to a vast number of free organisms in the fetal organs and fluids, abortion plays a key mechanism in disease spread in nature. B. melitensis, B. suis, and B. abortus construct the three most severe zoonotic species and their role in human brucellosis stems from their association with domesticated farm animals in which they strive and transmit the disease. Here we review the relevant literature on genus Brucella, vaccination and diagnostic approaches. Meanwhile, the prevention and control programs based on the combination of vaccination coverage of the population with differentiating serological diagnosis of the infected from vaccinated animals (DIVA) and herd clearance by a test and cull strategy using validated serological tests were discussed.

Keywords

• Brucellosis
• Vaccine
• Diagnosis
• Prevention and control