BRUCELLOSIS IN HUMANS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN RAW MILK CONSUMPTION AND THE OCCURRENCE OF ADVERSE OBSTETRIC EFFECTS

Abstract

Brucellosis is a disease capable of causing economic losses and posing a risk to the health of animals and humans. Characterized as a zoonosis, brucellosis can be transmitted to humans through direct or indirect contact with infected animals or contaminated food by the bacteria Brucella spp.. One of the main transmission mechanisms occurs through ingesting raw milk or unpasteurized dairy products previously contaminated with the bacteria. Infected patients may present non-specific clinical signs, such as fever, fatigue, headache, and arthralgia, and, as a result, the disease is underdiagnosed and can be confused with illnesses that resemble brucellosis in the absence of pathognomonic manifestations. However, with the chronicity of the disease, reproductive changes may also arise, such as infertility, premature births, spontaneous abortions, and low birth weight newborns. Therefore, it is necessary to carry out adequate screening to identify the cause of the adverse obstetric results observed, ensuring the establishment of adequate diagnosis and treatment for each patient. In order to prevent brucellosis, it is important to invest in raising public awareness about the means of transmission of the disease, especially direct contact with infected animals and the consumption of unpasteurized dairy foods.