High index of suspicion for brucellosis in a highly cosmopolitan city in southern China

Abstract

Background: Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonosis in the world. In China, 90% of human brucellosis occurs in six northern agricultural provinces. However, there is a recent increase in the trend of human brucellosis in southern provinces with limited cases reported in the literature. Our study aims to describe the clinical features and epidemiology of brucellosis in a tertiary hospital in southern China. Methods: A retrospective case series of brucellosis was conducted between January 1, 2014 and October 31. 2018. Cases were identified based on positive Brucella serology by tube agglutination test, or positive culture from clinical specimen identified by Vitek 2 and MALDL-TOF MS. Clinical details of brucellosis including patients' occupation, risk factors, and complications were analyzed. Clinical characteristics between patients from Guangdong and other provinces were also compared. Results: A total of 13 cases of laboratory-confirmed brucellosis were identified. 7 (53.8%) of the patients were male, 6 (46.2%) were female, with age ranging from 29 to 73 years old (median age: 51 years). 5 patients (38.5%) were from Guangdong province, while the remaining patients (61.5%) were from other provinces. The commonest risk factors of acquisition were consumption of undercooked meat and goat placenta. Patients from Guangdong province were found to be more likely to have prior placenta consumption. The commonest clinical presentations were fever, osteoarticular pain, urinary symptoms, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. Spondylodiscitis/ peripheral joint arthritis (5 patients, 38.5%) was the most prevalent complication, while extra-osteoarticular complications including abdominal aortitis, hepatosplenic abscess, chest wall abscess, and epididymo-orchitis were observed in 4 other patients. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS is reliable in Brucella identification after additional of reference spectra with standard Brucella strain. Conclusions: Brucellosis, previously thought to be only found in northern China, is now increasingly seen in highly cosmopolitan part of southern China. MALDI-TOF MS in hospitals in China should include reference spectra with standard Brucella strain to aid bacterial identification in routine clinical practice. In addition to tuberculosis, typhoid fever and typhus, brucellosis should be considered in patients with fever of unknown origin in this locality.

Clinical characteristics, management, and treatment outcomes of epididymo-orchitis among patients in a referral hospital in Southern Saudi Arabia

“…However, our findings align with those from Pakistan, where Brucella-related EO was reported in 16.7% (n = 23) of 138 EO cases [26]. Similarly, a study in China revealed that 30.7% of patients with confirmed brucellosis experienced EO complications [27]. Numerous studies have documented that EO can be a subsequent manifestation of systemic disease following a prior Brucella infection [2,3,24,25].…”

Epidemiological, Clinical and Laboratory Characteristics of Patients with Brucella Infection in Anhui Province, China

“… 2 Each species has its optimal host, of which only the first four species can infect humans. 3 Among them, B. melitensis is the most virulent and dominant species associated with human brucellosis in China. 3 , 4 Brucellosis is a disease caused by Brucella with symptoms including long-term fever, hyperhidrosis, arthralgia, fatigue, and pain.…”

“… 3 Among them, B. melitensis is the most virulent and dominant species associated with human brucellosis in China. 3 , 4 Brucellosis is a disease caused by Brucella with symptoms including long-term fever, hyperhidrosis, arthralgia, fatigue, and pain. 5 Brucellosis a very common but long-forgotten zoonosis that was repopulated in China since 1995, and the affected areas were mainly localized in northern China such as Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Heilongjiang, Hebei, Jilin, and Shaanxi.…”