Brucellosis

A rare bacterial infection, caused by various strains of, which may be transmitted to humans from affected cattle, goats, and pigs. Brucellosis may also be transmitted in unpasteurized dairy products. Initially, it causes a single bout of high fever, aches, headache, backache, poor appetite, weakness, and depression. Rarely, untreated severe cases may lead to pneumonia or meningitis. In long-term brucellosis, bouts of the illness recur over months or years; and depression can be severe. The disease is treated by antibiotic drugs.