title: An epidemiological profile of brucellosis in Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia.
abstract: All 137 brucellosis cases occurring in Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia in 1997 were studied retrospectively. Brucella agglutination titre of > or = 1/80, or rising titre plus history of typical signs and symptoms were considered evidence of infection. The incidence rate was 34/100,000, mean age 33.8 +/- 13.9 years (range: 3-72 years) and male:female ratio 1.8:1. There were 63.5% of cases rurally resident, 58.4% kept animals at home or elsewhere, 27.0% worked with animals and/or on farms, and 88.3% reported a history of raw milk ingestion. The most common infecting agents were Brucella melitensis, B. abortus and B. suis. Splenomegaly and hepatomegaly were detected in 25.5% and 22.6% of cases respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Primary Health Care Administration, General Directorate of Health Affairs, Tabuk Province, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Elbeltagy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology; D002003:Brucella abortus; D017347:Brucella melitensis; D041021:Brucella suis; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006529:Hepatomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology