Brucellosis “Undulant Fever; Malta Fever; Mediterranean Fever” is a contagious, zoonotic disease with severe impact on livestock health, animal welfare and economic status. The disease occurs worldwide but historically the Mediterranean region is an endemic area mainly due to its traditional husbandry (more often pastoralism) and extensive management of herds. The disease is known since many decades and, it is caused by Gram negative bacteria belonging the family Brucella. Majority of Brucella species normally infect a target mammal bus are able to spread also in other species, including wild animals, often facilitating the maintenance of the disease in the area.
Today in Europe Brucellosis infection (Infection with B.abortus, B.melitensis and B. suis) is a listed disease, classified as category B, with application of strict veterinary rules for eradication.
The disease affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, camels, horses, and dogs. It also infects other wild species of ruminants, marine mammals and often humans. Brucellosis is a zoonotic pathogen often reported as an occupational disease affecting, veterinarians, hunters, farmers, livestock producers, and microbiology laboratory technicians.
In animal, the disease is characterized by abortions and/or reproductive failure which occurs for several months sometimes years and, if eradication management is not applied, it will continue to affect the restocking groups of the farm indefinitely. Following the abortion, more often infected animals recover, and they will be able to deliver live offspring even if they may continue to shed the bacteria.
Human can be infected by contact or ingesting contaminated food (such as unpasteurized milk products), direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. In humans disease clinical symptoms are characterised by acute febrile illness with few or no localized signs and may progress to a chronic stage with relapses of fever, weakness, sweats, and vague aches and pains. Onset may be sudden, with chills and fever, severe headache, joint and low back pain, malaise, and occasionally diarrhoea. Typically, intermittent fever persists for 1 to 5 weeks. This webinar aims to provide an update on the current epidemiological situation in Mediterranean basin, host range and clinical manifestations, the current most accurate and sensitive diagnostics, as well as control and eradication strategies. Participants will stand upon the news and innovations regarding recent diagnostic methods and procedures of prevention and control of this disease.
This webinar aims to increase the awareness of participants to fulfill the One Health strategy.
