A case of human brucellosis in Hong Kong

MKP Lee, KSC Fung
Department of Pathology, United Christian Hospital, Kwun Tong, Hong Kong


Brucellosis is an infectious disease of humans and animals caused by Brucella species. We report on a 34-year-old housewife who presented with recurrent headache, fever, and malaise. Blood cultures yielded slow-growing gram-negative coccobacilli that were later identified as Brucella melitensis. The patient recalled handling goat placenta in China. She was prescribed a 6-week course of doxycycline and rifampicin. Laboratory staff who had been exposed to the isolate remained asymptomatic. The epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of brucellosis are discussed.

Hong Kong Med J 2005;11:403-6

Key words: Brucella melitensis; Brucellosis