Brucella

(noun)

A genus of Gram-negative bacteria. They are small, non-motile, non-encapsulated coccobacilli, which function as facultative intracellular parasites.

Related Terms

Examples of Brucella in the following topics:

  • Brucellosis (Undulant Fever)

    • Brucellosis is an infectious disease that occurs from contact with animals carrying Brucella bacteria.
    • Brucella spp. are small, gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped (coccobacilli) bacteria.
    • Brucella species have also been isolated from several marine mammal species (pinnipeds and cetaceans).
    • Brucellosis in humans is usually associated with the consumption of unpasteurized milk and soft cheeses made from the milk of infected animals, primarily goats, infected with Brucella melitensis, as well as with occupational exposure of laboratory workers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers.
    • Antibiotics like tetracyclines, rifampicin, and the aminoglycosides streptomycin and gentamicin are effective against Brucella bacteria.