Occupational brucellosis: two sides of one problem

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that remains a serious medical and social problem in many countries, including the Russian Federation. In recent years, specialists in the Republic of Tatarstan have recorded a fivefold increase in the incidence of brucellosis due to the unauthorized import of cattle from regions affected by this disease. The main causative agent is Brucella abortus, but other types of brucella, such as Brucella melitensis, can also cause the disease, which causes a variety of clinical forms and diagnostic difficulties.

The urgency of the problem is caused by an increase in migration of the population and animals, leading to an expansion of epidemic links and an increased risk of transmission of infection.

The article presents an analysis of two clinical cases of professional and non-professional infection with brucellosis by various types of brucella. Both cases have clinical and epidemiological features: in the first case, a slowly progressive lesion of large and small joints, in the other, a severe course with severe intoxication, involvement of the osteoarticular system with the addition of sacroiliitis.

The described cases indicate the emergence of new epidemiological factors, the complexity of clinical and laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis in the context of the relationship of the disease with professional activity.

Mandatory preliminary and periodic medical examinations should be an important condition for the prevention of the disease. To prevent the spread of more pathogenic Brucella species that do not possess strict gostality, timely laboratory diagnostics with the introduction of molecular genetic methods for brucella typing and strengthening of surveillance measures for brucellosis in safe areas are necessary.

Ethics. The conducted research did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Contribution:
Gilmullina F.S. — the concept and design of the study, writing the text;
Yakupova F.M. — research concept and design, writing the text;
Garipova R.V. — research concept and design, text writing, editing;
Arkhipov E.V. — research design, text writing, editing;
Isokov A.A. — working with primary material, writing text.

Funding. The study had no funding.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: 08.02.2025 / Accepted: 25.03.2025 / Published: 07.04.2025

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