BRUCELLOSIS IN THE ASIR REGION OF SAUDI-ARABIA

The problem of brucellosis in the Asir region in southwest Saudi Arabia was assessed in a cross-sectional study using bacteriologic and serologic analysis of blood specimens from 1331 individuals from different areas of the region. The study group included randomly chosen healthy people as well as patients with prolonged fever or other symptoms. Significant brucella antibody titres were found in 58.7% of patients with prolonged fever compared with 0.9% among healthy individuals and 15% among patients with other symptoms. Brucellosis was more prevalent in children under 10 years old. Close contact with goats, sheep, cows, and camels and raw milk consumption were the main risk factors identified in contracting the disease. Brucella melitensis was the only strain isolated. Positive blood cultures for this species were obtained in 16.2% of patients with fever. The overall prevalence of brucellosis among livestock, as assessed examining milk from a random sample of animals, was estimated at 17.1%.