title: Brucellosis in pregnant women from Pakistan: an observational study.
abstract: Brucella species occasionally cause spontaneous human abortion. Brucella can be transmitted commonly through the ingestion of raw milk or milk products. The objective of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of and to identify potential risk factors for brucellosis in pregnant women from Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional study at the Gynecology Outdoor Patient department of the Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Rawalpindi, Pakistan from March to June 2013. Data related to potential risk factors and clinical history was collected by individual interviews on the blood sampling day. The 429 serum samples collected were initially screened by Rose Bengal Plate Agglutination test for the detection of Brucella antibodies. We applied standard descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  
  Twenty five (5.8 %; 95 % confidence interval (CI): 3.8 % -8.5 %) serum samples were found to be seropositive. Brucellosis-related clinical symptoms were recorded in various seropositive cases. Animal contact, raw milk consumption, having an abortion history and the experience of an intrauterine fetal death were associated with seropositivity for brucellosis in univariate analyses (all p <0.05). In multiple logistic regression models only the contact with animals remained as independent and robust risk factor (odds ratio 5.21; 95 % CI: 1.88-13.75; p = 0.001) for seropositivity.
  
  
  
  Brucellosis is a serious threat for pregnant women and their unborn children in Pakistan. Pregnant women having brucellosis-related symptoms or previous history of abortions, miscarriages, intrauterine fetal death and other brucellosis-related manifestations should be screened for brucellosis - especially those exposed to animals given the increased risk - and medication should be administered according to state of the art.
authors: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan. shahzaduaar772@gmail.com.
authors: Shahzad
authors: S
authors: Ali
authors: Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors: Shamim
authors: S
authors: Akhter
authors: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743, Jena, Germany.
authors: Heinrich
authors: H
authors: Neubauer
authors: Clinical Epidemiology, Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Scherag
authors: Clinical Epidemiology, Integrated Research and Treatment Center, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
authors: Miriam
authors: M
authors: Kesselmeier
authors: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743, Jena, Germany.
authors: Falk
authors: F
authors: Melzer
authors: University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Lahore, Pakistan.
authors: Iahtasham
authors: I
authors: Khan
authors: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743, Jena, Germany.
authors: Hosny
authors: H
authors: El-Adawy
authors: Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors: Asima
authors: A
authors: Azam
authors: Pir Mehr Ali Shah Arid Agriculture University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.
authors: Saima
authors: S
authors: Qadeer
authors: National Veterinary Laboratories, Islamabad, Pakistan.
authors: Qurban
authors: Q
authors: Ali
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002002:Brucella; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
keywords: Abortion; Brucellosis; Pakistan; Pregnant women; Serology