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. 2010 Oct;83(4):876-8.
doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.2010.10-0237.

Brucellosis in northern Australia

Katie M Eales  1 , Robert E Norton, Natkunam Ketheesan
Affiliations

Brucellosis in northern Australia

Katie M Eales et al. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2010 Oct.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to define the clinical presentation of brucellosis in northern Australia and to assess the long-term impact of brucellosis on individual lives. A retrospective review was conducted to assess 32 patients with brucellosis caused by Brucella suis in Townsville, Australia during 1996-2009. All patients were Caucasian males with a mean age of 35 years. The greatest risk factor for brucellosis was feral pig hunting (94%, n = 30). There was one laboratory-acquired case. The most frequent clinical features included fever (94%, n = 30), fatigue (78%, n = 25) and arthralgia (78%, n = 25). The complication rate was 25% (n = 8). A delay in diagnosis of more than 14 days significantly increased the risk of the patient developing complications (95% confidence interval = 3.20-198.96, P = 0.002). The long-term impact of brucellosis was significant; 64% (16) of the patients reporting recurrent symptoms. This study highlights the need for further research on brucellosis caused by B. suis.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Distribution of cases of brucellosis in northern Queensland, Australia, 1996–2009.
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