BRUCELLA ABORTUS Meaning and
Definition
-
Brucella abortus is a species of gram-negative bacteria that causes brucellosis in animals, particularly cattle and bison. It is an important pathogen due to its ability to cause abortion, which results in economic losses for farmers and poses a risk to public health.
In bovines, Brucella abortus primarily infects the reproductive organs, leading to abortions during late pregnancy. The bacteria are shed in large numbers through the aborted fetus, fetal membranes, and uterine discharges, contaminating the environment and spreading the infection to other animals. It is transmitted through direct contact with infected tissues, ingestion of contaminated food or water, or inhalation of the bacterium, especially during parturition. In addition to causing abortions, Brucella abortus can also cause infertility, reduced milk production, lameness, weight loss, and other general signs of illness in infected animals.
In humans, Brucella abortus can cause brucellosis, a zoonotic disease characterized by flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle pain, and fatigue. The infection is usually acquired through the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or direct contact with infected animals or their secretions. Although rare, human-to-human transmission can also occur through sexual contact, breastfeeding, or contaminated medical instruments.
To prevent the spread of Brucella abortus, measures such as vaccination, quarantine, sanitary management practices, and proper pasteurization of dairy products are important. Early diagnosis and treatment with appropriate antibiotics are crucial for both animal and human cases to prevent chronic infections and potential complications.
Common Misspellings for BRUCELLA ABORTUS
- vrucella abortus
- nrucella abortus
- hrucella abortus
- grucella abortus
- beucella abortus
- bducella abortus
- bfucella abortus
- btucella abortus
- b5ucella abortus
- b4ucella abortus
- brycella abortus
- brhcella abortus
- brjcella abortus
- bricella abortus
- br8cella abortus
- br7cella abortus
- bruxella abortus
- bruvella abortus
- brufella abortus
- brudella abortus
Etymology of BRUCELLA ABORTUS
The word "Brucella" in "Brucella abortus" is derived from the name of its discoverer, Sir David Bruce, a British physician and bacteriologist. In the late 19th century, Sir Bruce was studying a disease affecting cattle in Malta, which was causing spontaneous abortion. He isolated and identified the bacteria responsible for the disease and named it Brucella melitensis, after the island of Malta. Later, a slightly different strain of the bacteria was discovered in cows, causing the same disease, and it was named Brucella abortus.
The term "abortus" in the name refers to the main clinical manifestation of this specific strain of Brucella, which is the spontaneous abortion that occurs in infected pregnant cows. This name signifies its ability to induce abortion in pregnant animals.
Infographic
Add the infographic to your website:
