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Case Definitions of Brucellosis

Confirmed Case - clinical illness* with laboratory confirmation of infection:

  • isolation of Brucella spp from an appropriate clinical specimen OR
  • 4-fold or greater rise in Brucella agglutination titre between acute- and convalescent-phase serum specimens obtained 2 or more weeks apart and studied at the same laboratory OR
  • demonstration by immunofluorescence of Brucella spp in an appropriate clinical specimen.

* Clinical illness is characterized by acute or insidious onset of fever, night sewats, undue fatigue, anorexia, weight loss, headache and arthralgia.

Last Updated: August 18, 2010