Human Brucellosis in France from 2004 to 2013

Introduction and Objectives: Brucellosis has been a notifiable disease since 1952. The objective is to monitor trends in the disease and to detect clusters of cases and unusual events. We report the results of surveillance from 2004 to 2013. Materials and methods: A case is defined by suggestive symptoms associated with biological confirmation. Brucella strains are characterized by the CNR, and serological diagnoses are confirmed by the laboratory affiliated with the CNR. Epidemiological, clinical, and biological data are collected for each case. Results: Two hundred forty-nine cases were reported, with a median age of 52 years (1–84) and a male-to-female ratio of 1.6, representing a stable annual trend. Among these, 210 cases (84%) were imported, 38 were autochthonous, and 1 was of undetermined origin; 45 cases belonged to 11 clusters (2 to 6 cases), and 16 worked in a bacteriology laboratory and became infected while handling specimens from an “index” case. Two clusters triggered alerts regarding the risk of brucellosis re-emergence in France. Three infections with B. suis biovar 2 identified in patients with immunosuppressive or debilitating conditions constituted exceptional diagnoses in light of the literature. Conclusion: Surveillance of brucellosis in areas officially free of animal brucellosis must remain a priority due to the risk of re-emergence, the potential diagnosis of chronic forms in previously infected patients, and the risk to laboratory technicians handling clinical samples. The recent recognition of the pathogenicity of B. suis biovar 2 in immunocompromised individuals warrants specific recommendations in the event of exposure to risk for these patients. (R.A.)

Author(s): Mailles A, Garin Bastuji B, Maurin M, Lavigne JP, Vaillant V

Publishing year: 2014

Pages: p.63

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