Brucella

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Brucella
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria Phylum: Proteobacteria Class: Alpha Proteobacteria Order: Rhizobiales Family: Brucellaceae Genus: Brucella
Species
B. abortus B. canis B. melitensis B. neotomae B. ovis B. suis

Brucella is a genus of Gram-negative bacteria. They are small (0.5-0.7 × 0.6-1.5 µm), non-motile, encapsulated coccobacilli. Slow-growing, Brucella species require complex media for isolation.

Brucella is the cause of brucellosis, a true zoonotic disease (i.e. no human-to-human transmission has been identified). It is transmitted by ingesting infected food, direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. Minimum infectious exposure is between 10 - 100 organisms. Brucellosis primarily occurs through occupational exposure (e.g. exposure to cattle, sheep, pigs), but also by consumption of unpasteurised milk products.

[edit] References

• Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) (2004). Sherris Medical Microbiology, 4th ed., McGraw Hill. ISBN 0-8385-8529-9.