Investigation and Follow-up of Brucellosis in Seropositive Patients and Their Families in Hamadan Province, Iran

Background: Brucellosis is recognized as one of the most prevalent diseases among humans and animals. This study investigated and followed up brucellosis in seropositive participants in the Famenin (Hamadan province, Iran) cohort of brucellosis and their families by culture and serology methods. Methods: Blood samples were taken from ۶۶ subjects, including ۱۸ subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers ≥ ۱:۱۸۰ and ۳۶ subjects from their families and ۱۲ subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers < ۱:۸۰. In the serological method, standard tube agglutination test (STAT positive with ≥ ۱:۸۰) and ۲-mercaptoethanol (۲-ME) test (positive with ≥ ۱:۴۰) were performed using the patient serum. Finally, ۸ cc of the blood of all subjects was used for culture in the BACTEC culture medium. Results: Of the ۶۶ serum samples, ۲۰ (۳۰.۳%) samples, including ۵, ۴, and ۱۰ samples at ۱:۲۰, ۱:۴۰, and ۱:۸۰ dilution, respectively, and ۱ sample at ۱:۱۶۰ dilution were positive by the STAT, of which ۱۳ (۶۵%) samples belonged to patients’ family members. Using the ۲-ME test, ۱۰ (۱۵.۲%) serum samples were positive, of which ۵ (۵۰%) cases were related to patients’ family members. Eventually, no growth of Brucella was observed in ۶۶ flasks of the BACTEC culture medium. Conclusion: Considering that a definite diagnostic method is not yet accessible, a combination of methods must be applied to diagnose the disease.

Keywords:

Brucellosis , Brucella melitensis , Brucella abortus , Serology , Culture