Occurrence of brucellosis in patients of pyrexia of unknown origin

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Original Article

Author Details : Pradeep Kumar, Shweta R Sharma*, Umar Farooq, Sudhir Singh, Vasundhara Sharma

Volume : 6, Issue : 2, Year : 2020

Article Page : 113-116

https://doi.org/10.18231/j.ijmmtd.2020.024

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Abstract

Background: Brucellosis is the most common bacterial zoonotic disease worldwide.It is mainly
occupational disease reported in farmers, slaughter house workers, animal handlers and meat inspectors.
This disease is endemic in many parts of Asia, including India. Brucellosis is an important, but neglected
major cause of pyrexia of unknown origin(PUO). Diagnosis of brucellosis is difficult. Hence the medical
and laboratory staff needs to be alert to recognize this condition.
Objective: To assess the possible risk factors associated with human brucellosis.To study frequency of
human brucellosis in relation to occupation, age and sex.
Materials and Methods: From September (2018) to November (2019) 102 Serum samples of PUO
cases were analysed for brucellosis. All serum samples were analysed by slide agglutination method using
standard specific brucella antigen.
Result: We observed that human brucellosis is present in PUO patients. The total number of brucellosis
positive cases were found to be 14 (13.72%) out of 102 PUO cases. Among positive cases, males were 8
(57.14%) and females were 6(42.85%). Highest brucellosis positive cases were seen in age-group between
15-30 years 6(42.85%) followed by 31-45 years 5(35.71%), 46-60 years 2(14.28%) &>60 1(7.14%) in
PUO patients.
Conclusion: With the growing number of brucellosis cases detected in India. Brucellosis is the fast
emerging as a public health threat and also due to limited diagnostics leading to underreporting. The
study also highlights the innovative and cost effective methods for rapid and early reporting and ruling
out brucellosis in PUO cases.

Keywords: PUO, Brucellosis, Agglutination, Prevalence.

How to cite : Kumar P, Sharma S R, Farooq U, Singh S, Sharma V, Occurrence of brucellosis in patients of pyrexia of unknown origin. IP Int J Med Microbiol Trop Dis 2020;6(2):113-116

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