Brucella abortus

Brucella abortus is a Gram-negative proteobacterium in the family Brucellaceae and is one of the causative agents of brucellosis. The rod-shaped pathogen is classified under the domain Bacteria. The prokaryotic B. abortus is spore-forming, nonmotile and aerobic. Brucella abortus enters phagocytes that invade human and animal defenses which in turn, cause chronic disease in the host. The liver and spleen are the affected areas of the body. Farm workers and veterinarians are the highest risk individuals for acquiring the disease. Swine, goats, sheep, and cattle are a few of the reservoirs for the disease. B. abortus causes abortion and infertility in adult cattle and is a zoonosis which is present worldwide. Humans are commonly infected after drinking unpasteurized milk from affected animals. The incubation period for the disease can range from 2 weeks to 1 year. Once symptoms begin to show, the host will be sick anywhere from 5 days to 5 months, depending on the severity of illness. A few of the symptoms of brucellosis include: fever, chills, headache, backache, and weight loss. As with any disease, there can be serious complications. Endocarditis and liver abscess are a couple of complications for brucellosis.