First confirmed case of human brucellosis by Brucella melitensis, a zoonosis present in Colombia

Abstract

Brucellosis, the principal zoonoses globally is highly prevalent in different countries of Latin America. It is associated with the exposition of livestock infected with different Brucella species, being B. melitensis the most virulent for humans, and frequently causing osteoarticular complications. In Colombia it is believed that B. melitensis infection is an absent entity, despite its biological plausibility in our context; however, there are few studies on its occurrence and a minimum index of suspicion of the disease, which is why we believe it is underdiagnosed. We present the first confirmed case of brucellosis by B. melitensis in Colombia diagnosed in a young pregnant patient, with an incidental diagnosis, in whom a retrospective analysis of her clinical outcome warned of key points that may impact on the diagnosis and timely treatment of the disease. We present several questions surrounding the real prevalence of this entity in Colombia.