Final answer:
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella bacteria, transmitted from cattle to humans, primarily through contaminated milk. Diagnosis is difficult and involves specific tests such as agglutination and ELISA, while treatment includes specific antibiotics. The disease's geographical range is still widespread in many areas outside the US, presenting a significant public health challenge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the transmission of facultative intracellular bacteria, known as Brucella, from cattle to humans. It can occur through consuming contaminated milk from infected cows or through direct contact with infected animal products. This disease presents challenges for diagnosis, as Brucella is only reliably found in the blood during the acute fever stage and is hazardous to handle due to its classification as a BSL-3 pathogen. To diagnose brucellosis, agglutination tests are often used, alongside enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to determine exposure. The treatment typically involves antibiotics such as doxycycline with rifampin, gentamicin, streptomycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) if necessary.
The geographical range of Brucella is more commonly found in regions such as the Mediterranean, south and central Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Despite being rare in the US due to animal vaccination, cases still arise, primarily in individuals with occupational exposure to animals, such as veterinarians or slaughterhouse workers. Public health needs to monitor zoonotic diseases like brucellosis due to their implications for biosecurity and the potential to affect both animal and human populations.