Clinical Characteristics of Human Brucellosis in South Korea.
- Author:
Yeon Sook KIM
1
;
Choi Young SILL
;
Won Sup OH
;
Ki Tae KWON
;
Hyuck LEE
;
Sun Hee LEE
;
Jun Seong SON
;
Shin Woo KIM
;
Hyun Ha CHANG
;
Sook In JUNG
;
Kwan Soo KO
;
Mi Yeoun PARK
;
Kyong Ran PECK
;
Jae Hoon SONG
Author Information
1. Division of Infectious Diseases, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Brucellosis;
Brucella abortus;
Standard tube agglutination test
- MeSH:
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
- From:
Infection and Chemotherapy
2006;38(6):334-343
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
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.
