Risk Factors for Brucellosis

About risk factors: Risk factors for Brucellosis are factors that do not seem to be a direct cause of the disease, but seem to be associated in some way. Having a risk factor for Brucellosis makes the chances of getting a condition higher but does not always lead to Brucellosis. Also, the absence of any risk factors or having a protective factor does not necessarily guard you against getting Brucellosis. For general information and a list of risk factors, see the risk center.

Risk factor list: The list of risk factors mentioned for Brucellosis in various sources includes:

Risk factors discussion: My dog has been diagnosed with brucellosis. Is that a risk for me?

B. canis is the species of Brucella species that can infect dogs. This species has occasionally been transmitted to humans, but the vast majority of dog infections do not result in human illness. Although veterinarians exposed to blood of infected animals are at risk, pet owners are not considered to be at risk for infection. This is partly because it is unlikely that they will come in contact with blood, semen, or placenta of the dog. The bacteria may be cleared from the animal within a few days of treatment; however re-infection is common and some animal body fluids may be infectious for weeks. Immunocompromised persons (cancer patients, HIV-infected individuals, or transplantation patients) should not handle dogs known to be infected with B. canis.¹

Abattoir workers, meat inspectors, animal handlers, veterinarians, and laboratorians.²

Persons at high risk for vaccine-related infection are farmers, veterinarians, and other animal health professionals due to needlesticks or exposure to infected calves, placentas, blood, or amniotic fluids. ³

Footnotes:
1. excerpt from Brucellosis General: DBMD
2. excerpt from Brucellosis: DBMD
3. excerpt from Facts About Brucellosis: CDC-OC

Last revision: April 9, 2003

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