Occupational brucellosis in County Cork

Abstract

Three occupational groups exposed to brucellosis hazard were investigated in Cork in 1967, using three standard tests. Of 80 veterinarians, 92·5% had serological evidence of past or present Brucella infection. If a complement-fixation test of 1/16 is accepted as evidence of active disease, 72·5% of veterinarians, 7·8% of 102 dairy farmers, and 2% of 50 butchers in this area have active disease. We feel that brucellosis, while undoubtedly of high infectivity, is more pathogenic than is commonly held. A controlled clinical trial is necessary to elucidate the morbidity of this organism.