Infect Chemother.  2006 Dec;38(6):334-343.

Clinical Characteristics of Human Brucellosis in South Korea

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
  • 2Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea.
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Dong-A University, Busan, Korea. hleeid@dau.ac.kr
  • 4Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, Korea.
  • 5Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Korea.
  • 6Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
  • 7Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
  • 8Division of Rickettsial & Zoonotic Diseases, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Since the first Korean case of human brucellosis was reported in 2002, the incidence of human brucellosis has been rapidly increasing. We performed this study to evaluate the clinical characteristics of human brucellosis occurring in South Korea.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Demographic features, clinical manifestations, and therapeutic outcomes of cases confirmed as brucellosis according to WHO diagnostic criteria were evaluated. Species of Brucella isolates were identified with 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. Serologic diagnosis was performed with standard tube agglutination test (STA).
RESULTS
A total of 34 cases were enrolled from 2003 to 2006 in six hospitals. Eight cases were confirmed with the isolation of Brucella from blood and 26 cases were confirmed with titer of antibodies < or =1:160 by STA. Male (31) was predominant and most of the patients were cattle farmers. The most common transmission route was direct contact with infected or their cattle byproducts. Fever was the most prominent symptom and fatigue followed. Gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal systems were commonly complicated. Patients were treated with doxycycline and rifampin or aminoglycosides for more than 6 weeks. All patients responded well to the therapeutic regimens, but one patient relapsed 10 months after treatment.
CONCLUSION
Brucellosis occurring in Korea has been caused by B. abortus, whose preferred natural host animals are cattle. Korean patients were infected through direct contact with bovine brucellosis. Clinical manifestations of brucellosis were similar to those occurring worldwide. Therapeutic outcomes were good among patients with brucellosis in Korea. In order to prevent human brucellosis, measures to eradicate bovine brucellosis should precede.

Keyword

Brucellosis; Brucella abortus; Standard tube agglutination test

MeSH Terms

Agglutination Tests
Aminoglycosides
Animals
Antibodies
Brucella
Brucella abortus
Brucellosis*
Brucellosis, Bovine
Cattle
Diagnosis
Doxycycline
Fatigue
Fever
Genes, rRNA
Humans*
Incidence
Korea*
Male
Musculoskeletal System
Rifampin
Aminoglycosides
Antibodies
Doxycycline
Rifampin
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