Brucellosis laboratory findings

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Brucellosis is diagnosed in a laboratory by finding Brucella organisms in samples of blood or bone marrow. Also, blood tests can be done to detect antibodies against the bacteria. If this method is used, two blood samples should be collected 2 weeks apart ^[1].

Laboratory Findings

Complete blood count and differential count - leukopenia, anemia
Liver function tests - elevation of AST and ALT
Demonstration of the agent: blood cultures in tryptose broth, bone marrow cultures. The growth of brucellae is extremely slow (they can take until 2 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 (hepatic biopsy)

Granuloma and necrosis in the liver of a guinea pig infected with *Brucella suis*

Gallery

Brucella abortus bacteria grown on a medium of sheep’s blood agar (SBA) 72hrs. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella abortus bacteria grown on a medium of sheep’s blood agar (SBA) 72hrs. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella abortus bacteria grown on a medium of sheep’s blood agar (SBA) 72hrs. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria grown on chocolate medium 72hrs. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella sis bacteria grown on chocolate medium 72hrs. From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella bacteria grown on MacConkey agar (MAC) medium 24hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria cultured on chocolate agar medium 48hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria cultured on SBA 24hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria cultured on SBA 72hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria cultured on SBA 48hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria cultured on Thayer-Martin (TM) agar medium 48hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]
Brucella suis bacteria cultured on chocolate agar medium 24hrs (10x mag). From Public Health Image Library (PHIL). ^[2]