Maternal brucellosis and human pregnancy

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic gram-negative bacterium of worldwide distribution. Its role in causing miscarriage in animals is well documented. Data on its role in human abortion are very few. This paper was carried out on selected women with abortion or history of abortion to clarify the role of brucellosis in human abortion. A total of 129 women were selected from Al-Zahraa University Hospital and other obstetric and gynecological hospitals in the vicinity of Greater Cairo. The patients were subjected to clinical, gynecological, and serodiagnosis (STAT and ELISA) of brucellosis. Also, routine urine (Nuclepore technique) and stool (Kato thick smear) was done as well as skin tests and ELISA for common hepatic parasites. The results showed that 59 had brucellosis, 27 had toxoplasmosis, 15 had fascioliasis and 29 had other cause(s) of abortion. Meanwhile, none had visceral leishmaniasis or schistosomiasis mansoni. the signs and symptoms of all patients were hepatosplenomegaly (31.1%), lower back abdominal pain (23.13%), lassitude, headache (each, 21.7%), lymphadenopathy (20.1%), vomiting (17.1%), loss of appetite, myalgia or diarrhea or constipation (each, 15.42 %), weight loss (14.6%), chest pain (13.9%), night sweating or dizziness (11.65%), fever or right sided abdominal pain (each, 10.7%), chills (7.71%), urticaria or monoarthralgia (each, 3.85%). These signs and symptoms were confusing for specific clinical picture of brucellosis. Brucellosis patients were successfully treated with a combination of Rifampicin 600 mg. once daily and Septrin 800 mg twice daily for 6 weeks. Cure was achieved clinically and serologically. Patients with toxoplasmosis or fascioliasis were also treated with Fasinex and Mirazid respectively. Other parasites were also treated.