Brucella broth without supplementation is the recommended medium for broth microdilution susceptibility tests of Brucella abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis. Based on an eight-laboratory collaborative study using a pH-adjusted modification of this medium, we propose MIC quality control ranges for three control strains against 10 antimicrobials that are potentially efficacious for treating infe...

Brucella melitensis has been reported in limited cases of rhythm device infection and has been described as being insidious in its progression. In this report, we emphasize the role of tissue and pocket-fluid extended cultures, especially in patients coming from brucella-endemic areas. While tissue cultures may confirm diagnosis in these patients, they typically have negative blood and swab cul...

Brucella melitensis was identified in an aspirate obtained from a patient's hip joint during a procedure at a hospital in Canada. We conducted an investigation into possible exposures among hospital workers; 1 worker who assisted with the procedure tested positive for B. melitensis. Aerosol-generating procedures performed outside the laboratory may facilitate transmission of this bacterium.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is small non-coding RNA with approximate 22 nt in length. Recent studies indicate that miRNAs play significant roles in pathogen-host interactions. Brucella organisms are Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacteria that cause Brucellosis. Brucella strains infect macrophages and establish chronic infection by altering host life activities including apoptosis and autophagy. ...

A modified rapid slide agglutination test for the presumptive identification of Brucella canis infection in dogs has been developed. The method required mixing 0.1 ml of canine serum with 0.1 ml of 0.2 M 2-mercaptoethanol solution. Equal volumes (0.05 ml) of the treated serum and the B. canis plate antigen were mixed. Agglutination results were read within 2 min. Clinical studies showed 100% ag...

CD8+ T cells have been reported to play an important role in defense against B. abortus infection in mouse models. In the present report, we use CD8 knockout mice to further elucidate the role of these cells in protection from B. melitensis infection. Mice were immunized orally by administration of B. melitensis WR201, a purine auxotrophic attenuated vaccine strain, then challenged intranasally...

Brucellosis is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by intracellular Gram-negative bacteria belonging to Brucella species. While uncommon in the United States, northern Europe and Eastern Asia, it is common in the Middle East, southern Europe, and South America [1]. Human brucellosis is a potentially life-threatening multisystem disease which requires combined and prolonged treatment with a...

Brucella are facultative intracellular bacteria that cause chronic infections by limiting innate immune recognition. It is currently unknown whether Brucella FliC flagellin, the monomeric subunit of flagellar filament, is sensed by the host during infection. Here, we used two mutants of Brucella melitensis, either lacking or overexpressing flagellin, to show that FliC hinders bacterial replicat...