29.05.2019

Surely many have heard or come across a term such as "brucellosis." Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection transmitted from sick animals to humans, characterized by multiple lesions of organs and systems of the human body.

But few people know how exactly this infectious disease manifests itself at first. The list of symptoms includes: headache, weakness, fatigue, lack of appetite, sleep disturbance, enlargement and soreness of all lymph nodes (cervical and axillary), enlargement of the liver and spleen.

Simple vital factors, such as direct human contact with an animal infected with Brucella bacterium, can result in infection if pathogenic bacteria get on damaged skin and mucous membranes when eating animal products. This can be unpasteurized milk, cheese, cottage cheese, poorly fried meat of a sick animal or by inhalation of dust particles containing the causative agent of brucellosis.

In addition, in the external environment, brucella remains viable for quite a long time, for example, in soil for up to 100 days or more, in dust for up to 44 days, in water for 6-150 days, in salted meat for 80-100 days, at low air temperature brucella do not lose viability up to 160 days or more. In a dry environment, brucella die in one hour at a temperature of 90-95 degrees, and boiling kills brucella instantly.

Brucellosis can be avoided if appropriate preventive measures are followed:

• constant monitoring of import and export of animals, compliance with veterinary and sanitary rules, annual serological testing of animal blood serum, registration of animals in a veterinary institution;
• the sale of livestock products should be carried out only with the knowledge and permission of the state veterinary service;
• purchase, transportation and sale of animals is subject to the availability of veterinary accompanying documents;
• slaughter animals only in specialized slaughterhouses, not to allow farm slaughter;
• prevent the use of raw milk purchased from individuals.
• when purchasing meat, require documents confirming the veterinary and sanitary examination;
• cook meat in small pieces with heat treatment for at least an hour.

And, of course, strict implementation of personal hygiene measures. Following these guidelines will help prevent brucellosis infection.

Laboratory Assistant-Bacteriologist of Bulandinsky District Department
Branch of the Republican State Pedagogical University at the Scientific and Practical Center “Scientific and Technical Center”
in the Akmola region Alpysbaeva K.R.