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 non-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. B. abortus also affects bison. Brucellosis has twelve different kinds of species, one being Brucella abortus. Some of the other species are known as B. melintisis, B. canis, B. suis, B. ovis, B. neotomae, B. ceti, and B. pinnipediae. Each species affects a certain kind of animal. Cattle is the major host species for the bacteria B. abortus. It is usually found in the liver and spleen. There are many different ways B. abortus can spread from the different animals and even to humans. The bacteria is called Bang’s disease when it affects humans. When cattle have still births and are carrying this disease, other animals nearby can get infected if they ingest it. It could also be passed by their semen and urine. Ticks are another source of transmission for B. abortus. Temperature plays a huge role in the survival of B. abortus. The bacteria can survive for a longer period of time if they are at a cooler temperature. This is why it can transmit through liquids like milk and tap water. B. abortus can last a lot longer in animals if they aren’t watched closely and if the cattle aren’t getting treatment for it. In humans, it can be caught after noticing signs and the correct tests to determine the type of bacteria.