布鲁氏菌病是由来自布鲁氏菌属的细菌导致。布鲁氏菌是革兰氏阴性需氧球杆菌。[1]Madkour MM. Madkour's brucellosis. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Springer-Verlag; 2001.它们没有荚膜、质粒和鞭毛,属于细胞内病原体。已经分离出多个种属。
[Figure caption and citation for the preceding image starts]: 布鲁氏菌和宿主由 Nicholas J. Beeching 博士、Sherine Thomas 博士和 Alessandro Gerada 博士编制 [Citation ends].
布鲁氏菌病一般是一种职业病,农民、动物管理员、屠宰工人、兽医、实验室工作人员的风险最高。在人类中,本病主要由马耳他布鲁氏菌、流产布鲁氏菌、猪布鲁氏菌导致,偶尔也由犬布鲁氏菌导致。马耳他布鲁氏菌与更具侵略性的急性表现相关,在全球范围内是导致人类感染的最常见种属。流产布鲁氏菌通常与轻至中度疾病相关,很少导致肌肉骨骼系统之外的并发症。猪布鲁氏菌与局灶性脓肿相关。[30]Beeching NJ, Whatmore AM, Corbel MJ. Brucellosis. In: Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL,et al, eds. Harrison’s principles of internal medicine. 19th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2014: chap 192.[31]Beeching NJ, Madkour MM. Brucellosis. In: Farrar J, Hotez P, Junghanss T, et al, eds. Manson’s tropical diseases. 23rd ed. London: Elsevier; 2013:371-378, 378.e1.犬布鲁氏菌有导致频繁复发的倾向,但通常不会引起慢性布鲁氏菌感染。只是在最近才发现布鲁氏菌海洋种属(鲸类布鲁氏菌和鳍足类布鲁氏菌)导致的人类疾病,但病例很罕见。在动物和零星的人类病例中正在发现其他新种属,包括 人布鲁氏菌 BO1,其被报告与乳腺移植物相关。[7]Pappas G. The changing Brucella ecology: novel reservoirs, new threats. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2010;36(suppl 1):S8-S11.http://www.ijaaonline.com/article/PIIS0924857910002542/fulltexthttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20696557?tool=bestpractice.com[32]De BK, Stauffer L, Koylass MS, et al. Novel Brucella strain (BO1) associated with a prosthetic breast implant infection. J Clin Microbiol. 2008;46:43-49.http://jcm.asm.org/content/46/1/43.fullhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17977982?tool=bestpractice.com[33]Scholz HC, Nöckler K, Göllner C, et al. Brucella inopinata sp. nov., isolated from a breast implant infection. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2010;60:801-808.http://ijs.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijs.0.011148-0#tab2http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19661515?tool=bestpractice.com[34]Jiménez de Bagüés MP, Iturralde M, Arias MA, et al. The new strains Brucella inopinata BO1 and Brucella species 83-210 behave biologically like classic infectious Brucella species and cause death in murine models of infection. J Infect Dis. 2014;210:467-472.http://jid.oxfordjournals.org/content/210/3/467.longhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24558120?tool=bestpractice.com
在牛奶、奶酪、奶油中,这些病原体的存活时间各不相同,直到生产后 11 周,仍可从奶制品中培养出这些病原体。[35]Sabbaghian H. Fresh white cheese as a cause of Brucella infection. Public Health. 1975;89:165-169.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1144660?tool=bestpractice.com[36]Entessar F, Ardalan A. Brucella. Geneva: World Health Organization; 1964.[37]Beeching NJ, Erdem H. Brucellosis. In: Cohen J, Powderly WG, Opal SM, eds. Infectious diseases. 4th ed. London: Elsevier Science; 2016:1098-1101.[38]Langer AJ, Ayers T, Grass J, et al. Nonpasteurized dairy products, disease outbreaks, and state laws - United States, 1993-2006. Emerg Infect Dis. 2012;18:385-391.http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/18/3/11-1370_articlehttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22377202?tool=bestpractice.com[39]Claeys WL, Cardoen S, Daube G, et al. Raw or heated cow milk consumption: review of risks and benefits. Food Control. 2013;31:251-262.这些病原体也被排出在动物排泄物(包括尿液和粪便)和妊娠物。它们能在土壤中长期存活(长达 2 年),尤其是潮湿条件下,因此会继续感染人类和动物。[40]Guihot A, Bossi P, Bricaire F. Bioterrorism with brucellosis [in French]. Presse Med. 2004;33:119-122.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15026707?tool=bestpractice.com
人类是感染的最终宿主,可以通过多种方式患上布鲁氏菌病,包括摄入受污染的食物,尤其是未经巴氏法灭菌的牛奶和其他奶制品,例如软奶酪、酪乳、酸奶酪,罕见情况下也会来自生肉。农场中的感染是通过直接接触受感染的动物产品(尤其是与分娩相关的动物产品)或吸入感染的干燥动物受孕产品形成的气溶胶,在实验室中,是通过来自受感染材料的气溶胶,或者液体溅落到结膜而发生感染。兽医可能通过意外接种动物活疫苗而患上布鲁氏菌病。不常见情况下,伤口和擦伤处的直接接种感染,可传播布鲁氏菌病。此外,曾经报告过性交、经胎盘和母乳传播。虽然罕见,但器官或组织移植和/或输血后也会发生感染。[41]Flynn MP. Human clinical bovine-type brucellosis not derived from milk. Public Health. 1983;97:149-157.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6878612?tool=bestpractice.com[42]Kaufmann AF, Fox MD, Boyce JM, et al. Airborne spread of brucellosis. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1980;353:105-114.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6939379?tool=bestpractice.com[43]Mantur BG, Mangalgi SS, Mulimani M. Brucella melitensis - a sexually transmissible agent? Lancet. 1996;347:1763.http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8656919?tool=bestpractice.com