Brucellosis Overview

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by a family of bacteria called Brucella. A bacterial disease with symptoms such as profuse sweating and joint and muscle pain, the illness may be chronic and persist for years. You can get the disease when you come in contact with infected animals or animal products contaminated with the bacteria. Animals that most commonly get brucellosis include cats, dogs, sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, bison, elk, caribou, moose, and wild hogs, among others.

VA recognizes brucellosis as an illness linked to service, particularly for veterans of the Gulf War and operations in Afghanistan, and they may be eligible for disability compensation under specific regulations, requiring a diagnosis within one year of service separation or a service-connected event. 

Brucellosis Signs and Symptoms

Brucellosis can cause a range of signs and symptoms in people, and some can occur for a long time before it’s diagnosed. The first symptoms can include:

  • Fever
  • Sweating
  • Generally feeling badly (malaise)
  • Not wanting to eat (anorexia)
  • Headache
  • Pain in muscles, joint, and/or back
  • Feeling more tired than usual (fatigue)

Other symptoms may continue or may come and go until you’ve had treatment, including:

  • Fevers that keep coming back
  • Arthritis
  • Swelling of the testicles and scrotum area
  • Infection of the heart (endocarditis)
  • Memory loss, confusion, and irritability
  • Depression
  • Swelling of the liver and/or spleen

Brucellosis Risk Factors

People can get brucellosis by:

  • Eating undercooked meat such as sheep, cow, goat, or camel.
  • Eating undercooked game meat such as bison, elk, caribou, moose, and wild hog.
  • Consuming unpasteurized (raw) milk or other dairy products made from contaminated milk.
  • Breathing in the bacteria that cause brucellosis.
  • Getting body fluids from infected animals in the eyes, nose, or mouth.
  • Preparing meat or hides after hunting.
  • Getting certain animal vaccinesin the eyes, nose or mouth or accidentally injecting yourself when vaccinating animals
  • Working in a lab with brucellosis samples.

People with certain jobs or hobbies may face increased exposure to the bacteria that cause brucellosis, including:

  • Slaughterhouse workers
  • Hunters
  • Veterinarians and veterinary staff
  • Animal breeders or animal shelter staff
  • Laboratory personnel

Brucellosis Prevention

The best way to prevent brucellosis infection is to be sure you don’t eat or drink:

  • Undercooked meat
  • Unpasteurized (raw) dairy products, including milk, cheese, and ice cream

If you work with animal tissues, protect yourself by wearing:

  • Rubber gloves
  • Goggles
  • Gowns or aprons
  • Masks or respirators

Brucellosis Treatment

Once your healthcare provider has confirmed that you have brucellosis from test results, you can begin treatment with antibiotics. Your doctor will decide which antibiotics you’ll get for a minimum of 6-8 weeks. To be sure you get the right medicines for you, let your healthcare providers know if you are pregnant; allergic to doxycycline or rifampin; or are immune-suppressed from medical conditions or other medicines.

It’s important that you take all your medicines when being treated for brucellosis. If you’re not properly treated, the infection can become chronic and lead to long-term disease associated with arthritis, endocarditis, chronic fatigue, depression, and swelling of the liver or spleen.

Other Resources And Support

https://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/about/

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/infectious-diseases/

https://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/gulfwar/infectious_diseases.asp