see: [Cubox - milk-borne diseases](cubox://card?id=7147619392434471950) - caused by **unpasteurized milk** from infected animals - usually goats or sheep - also known as undulant fever, *Malta fever*, and *Mediterranean fever* - Portugal, Israel, Syria, and Jordan - Brucella, are small, Gram-negative, nonmotile, nonspore-forming, rod-shaped (coccobacilli) bacteria **symptoms** - muscle aches - night sweats **consequences** consequences of Brucella infection are highly variable and may include arthritis, spondylitis, thrombocytopenia, meningitis, [[Eye infections#Iritis / uveitis / choroiditis|uveitis]], [[Optic neuritis]], [[Endocarditis]], and various neurological disorders collectively known as neurobrucellosis. **diagnosis** - Demonstration of the agent: blood cultures in tryptose broth, bone marrow cultures: The growth of brucellae is extremely slow (they can take up to two months to grow) and the culture poses a risk to laboratory personnel due to high infectivity of brucellae. - Demonstration of antibodies against the agent either with the classic Huddleson, Wright, and/or Bengal Rose reactions, either with ELISA or the 2-mercaptoethanol assay for IgM antibodies associated with chronic disease - Histologic evidence of granulomatous hepatitis on hepatic biopsy - Radiologic alterations in infected vertebrae: the Pedro Pons sign (preferential erosion of the anterosuperior corner of lumbar vertebrae) and marked osteophytosis are suspicious of brucellic spondylitis. **treatment** doxcycline, rifampacin, gent > **other milk borne diseases:** > - listeria > - Salmonella (eg typhoid) > - E coli / HUS > - Campylobacter