Out of the following, what can be a possible source of infection for brucellosis?

Appeared in: AIIMS Manglagiri NO - 2019

Explanation

Brucellosis is a classic zoonotic disease, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans.
Goats are a primary animal reservoir for the bacterium Brucella melitensis.
B. melitensis is the most frequent and pathogenic species that causes severe brucellosis in humans.
Transmission occurs through direct contact with infected goats or, more commonly, by consuming unpasteurized dairy products like raw milk and soft cheese made from goat's milk.

Option A: While some rare variants of Brucella (like a variant of B. suis or B. neotomae) can be found in rodents, rats are not considered a primary or common source of human brucellosis compared to livestock.
Option B: This option is also correct, which indicates a flaw in the question design. Sheep, like goats, are a primary reservoir for Brucella melitensis, the most common cause of human brucellosis.
Option D: Horses are considered incidental hosts for Brucella. While they can be infected (usually with B. abortus or B. suis), they are a much less common source of infection for humans compared to ruminants like goats, sheep, and cattle.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Zoonotic transmission of Brucellosis helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
When a patient presents with symptoms like undulating fever, profuse sweating, fatigue, and joint pain (arthralgia), a nurse should take a detailed history, including occupation (farmer, veterinarian, abattoir worker) and dietary habits (consumption of raw milk or cheese).
Patient education is a key nursing role in preventing brucellosis. This includes advising individuals, especially those in high-risk groups or travelers to endemic areas, to avoid unpasteurized dairy products and to use protective gear when handling animals.
What if? If the patient was a pig farmer presenting with similar symptoms, the primary suspected agent would be Brucella suis, as swine are its main reservoir.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the keyword in the question, which is 'brucellosis', and the core task, which is to identify a 'source of infection'.
Recall that brucellosis is a well-known zoonotic disease, primarily associated with livestock.
Evaluate each option based on your knowledge of animal reservoirs for common diseases.
Eliminate 'Rats' as they are not a common source for the typical presentation of brucellosis.
Consider the remaining options: Sheep, Goats, and Horses. All are farm animals and potential reservoirs.
Recall or deduce that goats and sheep are the most significant reservoirs for Brucella melitensis, the most common and severe form in humans. Horses are less common, incidental hosts.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 1 — Subpart B (pp 202-403 of 604) p. 153-155

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