Brucellosis
What is Brucellosis?
Brucellosis is a bacterial infection that spreads from animals to humans. People often get it from contact with infected livestock like cattle, goats, sheep, or pigs. You can also catch it by eating unpasteurized dairy products from infected animals.
The bacteria enter your body through breaks in your skin, mucous membranes, or your digestive system. Once inside, the Brucella bacteria travel through your bloodstream and settle in various organs. They hide inside your immune cells, making the infection difficult to clear without treatment.
This condition is rare in the United States but more common in regions where animal vaccination programs are limited. Farm workers, veterinarians, and meat processors face higher risk due to direct animal contact. Without treatment, brucellosis can become chronic and affect your bones, heart, and nervous system.
Symptoms
- Fever that comes and goes, often spiking at night
- Sweating, especially during sleep
- Severe fatigue and weakness
- Joint and muscle pain
- Headaches
- Back pain
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
- Abdominal pain
- Enlarged liver or spleen
- Swollen lymph nodes
Some people have mild symptoms that come and go over weeks or months. Others develop severe illness quickly. Early symptoms often feel like the flu, which can make diagnosis challenging.
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Causes and risk factors
Brucellosis happens when Brucella bacteria enter your body through contact with infected animals or contaminated products. Direct contact with blood, birth fluids, or tissues from infected livestock poses the highest risk. Eating or drinking unpasteurized milk, cheese, or other dairy products can also transmit the bacteria. In rare cases, people breathe in airborne bacteria in slaughterhouses or laboratories.
Certain occupations and activities increase your risk. Farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers face regular exposure to infected animals. Hunters who handle wild game can also contract the infection. People who travel to regions with poor animal disease control and consume local dairy products have higher risk. The bacteria can survive for months in soil, water, and animal products.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors diagnose brucellosis through blood tests that detect the bacteria or antibodies your body makes against them. A blood culture can grow and identify Brucella bacteria if they are present in your bloodstream. Blood work may also show elevated monocytes, a type of white blood cell that increases when fighting this chronic bacterial infection. These cells help form granulomas, which are clusters of immune cells trying to contain the bacteria.
Rite Aid offers blood testing that can help detect signs of brucellosis through culture and monocyte analysis. Your doctor will consider your symptoms, occupation, travel history, and test results together to make a diagnosis. Early detection helps prevent the infection from becoming chronic and spreading to your organs.
Treatment options
- Antibiotics for six to eight weeks, usually combining two different types
- Rest and adequate sleep to support your immune system
- Staying hydrated with water and electrolyte drinks
- Pain relievers for fever, headaches, and muscle aches
- Nutritious diet rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals
- Avoiding unpasteurized dairy products completely
- Regular follow-up blood tests to confirm the infection is clearing
- Extended treatment for complications affecting bones, heart, or brain
Treatment works best when started early. Most people recover fully with proper antibiotic therapy. You need to complete the full course of antibiotics even if you feel better, or the infection may return.
Concerned about Brucellosis? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
People catch brucellosis through direct contact with infected animals or by consuming contaminated products. You can get it from touching blood or birth fluids from infected livestock. Eating unpasteurized dairy products from infected animals is another common route. In rare cases, breathing in bacteria in slaughterhouses or labs can cause infection.
The first signs often include fever that comes and goes, along with sweating and fatigue. Many people also experience muscle aches, joint pain, and headaches. These symptoms can feel like the flu and may start anywhere from five days to several months after exposure. Some people develop mild symptoms while others get very sick quickly.
Yes, blood tests can detect brucellosis in two main ways. A blood culture can grow and identify Brucella bacteria if they are circulating in your bloodstream. Blood work can also show elevated monocytes, a type of white blood cell that increases during chronic bacterial infections like brucellosis. Your doctor may order multiple tests to confirm the diagnosis.
Recovery typically takes six to eight weeks with proper antibiotic treatment. Some people feel better within a few weeks but must continue antibiotics to fully clear the infection. Without treatment, symptoms can last months or even years. A small percentage of people develop chronic brucellosis that requires extended treatment.
Brucellosis rarely spreads from person to person. The infection almost always comes from animals or contaminated animal products. However, rare cases have occurred through organ transplants, blood transfusions, or breastfeeding. Sexual transmission is also possible but extremely uncommon.
People who work closely with livestock face the highest risk. This includes farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers. Hunters who handle wild game and people who consume unpasteurized dairy products also have increased risk. Travelers to regions where brucellosis is common in animals should take extra precautions.
Brucellosis can cause permanent damage if left untreated or if complications develop. The bacteria can infect your bones, joints, heart valves, liver, or nervous system. Chronic arthritis, endocarditis, and neurological problems may result. Early diagnosis and complete antibiotic treatment greatly reduce the risk of lasting complications.
Avoid all unpasteurized dairy products including milk, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. This is especially important when traveling to areas where brucellosis is common. Only buy dairy products that clearly state they are pasteurized. Cook meat thoroughly, especially from wild game or areas with known brucellosis in animals.
At-risk workers should discuss testing frequency with their doctor based on exposure level. Regular monitoring may be recommended for people with ongoing livestock contact or those in high-risk environments. Testing is especially important if you develop fever, sweating, or body aches. Early detection prevents complications and reduces treatment time.
Yes, you can get brucellosis again after recovering from a previous infection. Having brucellosis does not provide lasting immunity. People in high-risk occupations should continue following prevention measures even after successful treatment. Relapse can also occur if antibiotic treatment is stopped too early or is incomplete.