title: Brucellosis in northern Australia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to define the clinical presentation of brucellosis in northern Australia and to assess the long-term impact of brucellosis on individual lives. A retrospective review was conducted to assess 32 patients with brucellosis caused by Brucella suis in Townsville, Australia during 1996-2009. All patients were Caucasian males with a mean age of 35 years. The greatest risk factor for brucellosis was feral pig hunting (94%, n = 30). There was one laboratory-acquired case. The most frequent clinical features included fever (94%, n = 30), fatigue (78%, n = 25) and arthralgia (78%, n = 25). The complication rate was 25% (n = 8). A delay in diagnosis of more than 14 days significantly increased the risk of the patient developing complications (95% confidence interval = 3.20-198.96, P = 0.002). The long-term impact of brucellosis was significant; 64% (16) of the patients reporting recurrent symptoms. This study highlights the need for further research on brucellosis caused by B. suis.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Queensland, Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia. katie_eales@health.qld.gov.au
authors.forename: Katie M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Eales
authors.forename: Robert E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Norton
authors.forename: Natkunam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ketheesan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild; D041021:Brucella suis; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011793:Queensland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult; D015047:Zoonoses