Importance of Brucella melitensis for food safety

Abstract

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by members of the Brucella spp. Various species of Brucella spp. infect different animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs, sea mammals and a variety of other animals. Infection of humans occurs directly via contact with infected animals or through animal products, in particular unpasteurised milk, cream, cheese and other dairy products. The incidence of brucellosis in humans in the Balkan and Mediterranean countries has not shown any declining tendency in previous decades. Preventive measures for keeping the food chain safe are recommended.

Keywords

• brucellosis
• food safety