A sporadic outbreak of human brucellosis in Korea.
Eleven cases of human brucellosis occurred among livestock workers and a veterinarian who lived and worked in a rural area around Jeongeup City, Jeollabuk-Do, Korea from February 2003 to August 2003. Eight of the patients had taken care of Korean native cattle that were infected with bovine brucellosis and had already been slaughtered. Two of the patients had taken care of dairy cattle, and one case was a veterinarian who acquired the disease through an accidental contact with infected cattle while assisting in calf delivery. Eleven cases were identified by serologic work ups and four cases were identified via positive blood cultures. This study shows that the Republic of Korea is no longer free of human brucellosis, Brucella abortus biotype 1. We reviewed the patients' characteristics and serologic data during the one-year follow up period, and we also discuss on the efficacy and side effects of the rifampin and doxycyline regimen used for the treatment of human brucellosis.
Park
Mi-Yeoun
MY
Department of Internal Medicine, Chonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, Korea.
Lee
Chang-Seop
CS
Choi
Young-Sil
YS
Park
Seoung-Ju
SJ
Lee
Joo-Sun
JS
Lee
Heung-Bum
HB
D000328:Adult; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001483:Base Sequence; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000635:transmission; D002417:Cattle; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D012293:Rifampin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018634:Veterinarians
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004318:Doxycycline; D012293:Rifampin