Brucella abortus: Persistence, Duration, and Testing
Overview Brucella abortus is a Gram-negative, facultative intracellular bacterium responsible for brucellosis, a chronic zoonotic disease. It primarily affects cattle, bison, and elk, but can also infect humans through contact with infected animal fluids or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products. The organism’s ability to survive and replicate within host cells—especially macrophages—allows it to evade immune responses and persist in the body for months or even years. Persistence and Duration in the Human Body Acute Phase Symptoms such as fever, night sweats, fatigue, and joint pain typically appear between two to four weeks after exposure. If untreated, this phase can last for several weeks. Chronic Phase Without appropriate antibiotic treatment, Brucella abortus may enter a chronic or latent phase. The bacterium can persist in host tissues for months to years, potentially leading to relapsing infections or long-term complications such as arthritis, spondylitis, or endoc...