Clinical observations of residual brucellosis in livestock workers

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease transmitted from sick animals to humans, characterized by multiple lesions of the body’s organs and systems. Officially registered incidence of brucellosis in Russia is low-0.3-0.4 per 100 thousand population. However, these figures may be much higher, since only newly detected cases are subject to registration, and there is no record of chronic forms and residual phenomena.

The results of a correspondence retrospective examination of medical documents and radiographs of 11 patients with a previously established diagnosis of residual brucellosis are presented. Patients worked in the livestock industry in different professions in one of the republics of the Russian Federation.

Pathognomonic changes of the bone and joint system in the form of sacroiliitis were detected in 55% of patients, spondylitis-in 64%, and lesions of the clavicular-acromial joints-in 63%. Lesions of large joints — hip and knee-were characterized by pronounced deforming arthrosis with relative preservation of small joints. Osteoporosis was detected in 82% of cases.

The detected radiological changes in the musculoskeletal system do not allow us to fully justify the presence or absence of a diagnosis. The main diagnostic criteria are the features of the epidemiological history and the results of laboratory diagnostics.