Brucellosis is a zoonosis⁽¹⁾, an infectious disease due to bacteria of the Brucella genus, which can affect most animals - domestic and wild species. In animals, the infection may cause abortions in females, epididymo-orchitis in males and, less frequently, arthritis or bursitis in both. Mucosal contact with aborted fetuses and fetal membranes, which contain large amounts of the bacteria, is an important means of transmission in livestock.

Fifty years ago, the Brucella genus was considered to contain only 3 species: Brucella abortus, Brucella melitensis, and Brucella suis. Since the early 1960s, new species have been identified as belonging to the Brucella genus. Although the pathogenesis and histologic lesions of B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis in their preferred hosts have not changed, additional knowledge on the pathology of these brucellae in new hosts, or of new species of Brucella in their preferred hosts, has been obtained (Online WOAH Terrestrial Manual, Chapter 3.1.4). 

To this day, brucellosis remains a neglected human zoonosis that is emerging or reemerging in many parts of the world. It places significant burdens on human healthcare systems and limits the economic potential of individuals, communities, and nations. The implementation of public policy focused on mitigating the socioeconomic effects of brucellosis in human and animal populations is needed. The interdisciplinary “One Health” nature of the effects that brucellosis has indicate that collaboration of veterinary, medical, public health, cultural, economic and social experts is needed to effect a change in disease burden (Berthe et al, 2018; Franc et al, 2018).

⁽¹⁾ Zoonosis : a disease, communicable from animals to humans under natural conditions, due to microbes, parasites or prions capable of infecting at least one vertebrate animal, transmission taking place from animal to humans or vice-versa.