Brucellosis and One Health: Inherited and Future Challenges

Abstract

One Health is the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines to attain optimal health for people, animals and the environment, a concept that historically owes much to the study of brucellosis, including recent political and ethical considerations. Brucellosis One Health actors include Public Health and Veterinary Services, microbiologists, medical and veterinary practitioners and breeders. Brucellosis awareness, and the correct use of diagnostic, epidemiological and prophylactic tools is essential. In brucellosis, One Health implementation faces inherited and new challenges, some aggravated by global warming and the intensification of breeding to meet growing food demands. In endemic scenarios, disease awareness, stakeholder sensitization/engagement and the need to build breeder trust are unresolved issues, all made difficult by the protean characteristics of this zoonosis. Extended infrastructural weaknesses, often accentuated by geography and climate, are critically important. Capacity-building faces misconceptions derived from an uncritical adoption of control/eradication strategies applied in countries with suitable means, and requires additional reference laboratories in endemic areas. Challenges for One Health implementation includee the lack if research in species other than cattle and small ruminants, the need for a safer small ruminant vaccine, the need to fill in the infrastructure gap, the need for realistic capacity-building, the creation of reference laboratories in critical areas, and the stepwise implementation of measures not directly transposed from the so-called developed countries.

Seroepidemiology and associated risk factors of brucellosis in small ruminants of district Khanewal, Pakistan

“…Brucellosis is an important but neglected bacterial disease with a significant impact on global health and the economy, especially in lower middle and lower income countries [ 1 ]. It affects a wide range of domesticated animals, including ruminants, pigs, and dogs, with zoonotic implications [ 2 ]. According to the World Health Organization and Food and Agriculture Organization, brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses in the world, with an estimated 0.5 million cases annually [ 3 ].…”

Genetic Diversity of Brucella melitensis Isolated from Domestic Ruminants in Iraq

“…Brucellosis is also a growing global One-Health issue due to the increase in international commodity exchange, which allows the infection to spread from endemic areas to other parts of the world [ 5 ].…”

Characterization of three predicted zinc exporters in Brucella ovis identifies ZntR-ZntA as a powerful zinc and cadmium efflux system not required for virulence and unveils pathogenic Brucellae heterogeneity in zinc homeostasis

“…This is the case of B. melitensis, B. abortus, or B. suis, which preferentially infect sheep/goats, cattle, and pigs, respectively, and cause notifiable reproductive and zoonotic diseases. In smooth brucellae, the O-PS is critical for virulence and carries the main epitopes involved in their serodiagnosis (3)(4)(5). By contrast, B. ovis is a non-zoonotic rough bacterium with a lipopolysaccharide devoid of O-PS, which also plays an essential role in its virulence and immunogenicity (6).…”