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STAKEHOLDER PANEL ON AGENT
DETECTION ASSAYS (SPADA)
Background & Fitness for Purpose
Brucella suis
Frank F. Roberto, PhD
k ll
Roc vi e, MD
23 March 2016
Background
•
Brucellosis, aka Malta Fever, undulant fever, Bang’s
Disease, fistulous withers (in horses)
•
The causal agent is an intracellular bacterial
pathogen, first isolated after cases of the disease in
garrison troops on the island of Malta who drank
infected goat’s milk (Sir David Bruce, “Micrococcus
melitensis”)
•
Pasteurization of dairy products and culling of
infected animals have reduced the prevalence of the
disease in many domesticated species, but wildlife
reservoirs remain throughout the world including US