Prevalence, diagnosis, and manifestations of brucellosis: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

ObjectivesBrucellosis is one of the most prevalent zoonotic diseases common between humans and animals. Despite eradication efforts, the burden of the disease is well-known in endemic countries and in countries where brucellosis has not been an important health issue until recently. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, diagnosis, and manifestations of brucellosis.MethodsIn this study, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and Google scholar databases were systematically searched to find studies published from 2011 to 2021. The search was conducted using text words and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) Terms on the prevalence of brucellosis. Stata software 14.0 was used for all analyses.ResultsBased on the results, the pooled prevalence of brucellosis was 15.27% (95% CI: 9.68–21.86; heterogeneity I2 index: 97.43; p < 0.001) for man and 15.33% (95% CI: 7.19–25.75; heterogeneity I2 index: 98.19; p < 0.001) for woman. Age (coefficient: 0.240; p = 0.480), gender (coefficient: −0.017; p = 0.800), and publication year (coefficient: 0.114; p = 0.861) showed no significant effect on heterogeneity among studies. Egger's test indicated a significant publication bias for the prevalence of brucellosis (coefficient 3.894; p < 0.001). Moreover, the trim-and-fill method exhibited that the adjusted prevalence of brucellosis (18.30%, 95% CI: 14.10–22.52) was not significantly different from the original prevalence of brucellosis.ConclusionThe pooled estimate for brucellosis prevalence was estimated as 15.53%. To better understand the epidemiology of brucellosis globally, more extensive studies are needed to be conducted throughout the world, especially in developing and low-income countries.

The Brief Case: Incidental finding of Brucella abortus bacteremia in a patient with urinary tract infection

“…Cases of brucellosis in the United States are uncommon, with 108 reported cases in 2022 ( 2 ). However, globally, there are over 500,000 cases reported annually, predominantly in developing countries where Brucella is endemic ( 5 ).…”

“…Human infections are most often acquired through consumption of unpasteurized dairy products or contact with fluids or tissues of infected livestock ( 5 ). In addition to zoonotic infection, cases of brucellosis have been described in clinical laboratory workers following exposure to Brucella in routine microbiology culture ( 6 ).…”

Brucella Zoonosis: Treatment and Prevention Guide

“…Brucellosis, a disease with a continually fluctuating geographical distribution, is undergoing epidemiological changes as a result of a variety of variables including hygienic, economical, and political issues, as well as increased international travel (Khoshnood et al 2022). Cases of human brucellosis have been observed, especially in Central Asia, and there is a significant surge in its spread across numerous Middle Eastern nations (Seleem et al 2010).…”

Motor polyradiculoneuropathy as an unusual presentation of neurobrucellosis: a case report and literature review

“…Brucellosis ranks among the most prevalent zoonotic diseases, impacting approximately 500,000 individuals yearly [ 7 ]. The combined estimate for the prevalence of brucellosis was 15.53% [ 8 ].…”