Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bacterial infection affecting livestock: A contagious disease, primarily in cattle, goats, and pigs, caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. A common symptom in animals is spontaneous abortion.
   • A zoonotic disease in humans: The human form of this infection, contracted through contact with infected animals or consumption of contaminated animal products like unpasteurized milk or undercooked meat. Symptoms in humans typically include recurrent fever, headache, weakness, and muscle pain.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The veterinarian diagnosed the herd with brucellosis after several cows miscarried.
  • Public health officials warned about the risks of brucellosis from consuming raw cheese.
  • Farmers are vaccinated their livestock to prevent outbreaks of brucellosis.

Advanced Usage

• "Undulant fever": A historical and descriptive synonym for human brucellosis, referring to the characteristic wavy pattern of the fever.
  • Before modern diagnostics, the patient's symptoms were consistent with undulant fever, now known as brucellosis.
• "Malta fever" or "Mediterranean fever": Other historical names for the disease, linked to its prevalence in certain regions.
  • The illness, once called Malta fever, is caused by the bacterium Brucella melitensis.

Variants and Related Words

• Brucella (n): The genus of bacteria that causes brucellosis.
  • Brucella abortus primarily infects cattle.
• Zoonosis (n): Any disease that can be transmitted from animals to humans. Brucellosis is a classic example of a zoonosis.
  • Rabies and brucellosis are both significant zoonoses.

Synonyms

• Undulant fever (n): For the human disease.
• Bang's disease (n): Specifically for the form in cattle.
• Contagious abortion (n): Referring to the primary symptom in animals.

Related Phrases

• Brucellosis eradication program: A coordinated public and animal health effort to eliminate the disease from a region or country.
  • The country implemented a successful brucellosis eradication program.
• Brucellosis serology: Laboratory testing of blood serum to diagnose the infection.
  • A positive brucellosis serology confirmed the diagnosis.

Noun

1. an infectious disease of domestic animals often resulting in spontaneous abortion; transmittable to human beings
2. infectious bacterial disease of human beings transmitted by contact with infected animals or infected meat or milk products; characterized by fever and headache