Brucellosis
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Brucellosis
Brucellosis, also called undulant fever or Malta fever, is a zoonosis (infectious disease transmitted from animals to humans) caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. It is primarily a disease of domestic animals (goats, pigs, cattle, dogs, etc) and humans and has a worldwide distribution, mostly now in developing countries. The symptoms are like those associated with many other febrile diseases, but with emphasis on muscular pain and sweating. The duration of the disease can vary from a few weeks to many months or even years. In first stage of the disease, septicaemia occurs and leads to the classic triad of undulant fevers, sweating (often with characteristic smell, likened to wet hay) and migratory arthralgia and myalgia. In blood tests, is characteristic the leukopenia and anemia, some elevation of AST and ALT and positivity of classic Bengal Rose and Huddleson reactions.
This
complex
is, at
least in
Portugal
known as
the
Malta
fever.
During
episodes
of Malta
fever,
melitococcemia
(presence
of
brucellae
in
blood)
can
usually
be
demonstrated
by means
of blood
culture
in
tryptose
medium
or
Albini
medium.
If
untreated,
the
disease
can give
origin
to
focalizations
or
become
chronic.
The
focalizations
of
brucellosis
occur
usually
in bones
and
joints
and
spondylodisciitis
of
lumbar
spine
accompanied
by
sacroiliitis
is very
characteristic
of this
disease.
Orchitis
is also
frequent
in men.
Diagnosis of brucellosis relies on: 1. Demonstration of the agent: blood cultures in tryptose broth, bone marrow cultures. The growth of brucellae is extremely slow (they can take until 2 months to grow) and the culture poses a risk to laboratory personnel due to high infectivity of brucellae. 2. Demonstration of antibodies against the agent either with the classic Huddleson, Wright and/or Bengal Rose reactions, either with ELISA or the 2-mercaptoethanol assay for IgM antibodies associated with chronic disease 3. Histologic evidence of granulomatous hepatitis (hepatic biopsy) 4. Radiologic alterations in infected vertebrae : the Pedro Pons sign (preferential erosion of antero-superior corner of lumbar vertebrae) and marked osteophytosis are suspicious of brucellic spondylitis. The disease's sequelae are highly variable and may include granulomatous hepatitis, arthritis, spondylitis, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, meningitis, uveitis, optic neuritis and endocarditis |
Kumkum / safron - Crocus sativus
Crocuses belong to the family Iridaceae. The saffron crocus is classified as Crocus sativus, It is a shrub. Leaves are seen towards the base of the stem and are compactly arranged.Read More about safron.....
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