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Background
•
B. suis
anecdotally first pathogen developed as a
biological weapon by former US offensive program
(W. Patrick, III, personal communication)
•
Infectious dose of 10‐100 organisms validated in
historic “8‐ball” chamber at Ft. Detrick with human
subjects
•
Aerosol transmission (first noted in swine abattoirs),
but also via fomites and sexual route documented in
animals and humans
•
Serious acute and chronic symptoms of brucellosis
often complicate correct diagnosis
Background
•
α‐proteobacteria, Order Rhizobiales, Family
Brucellaceae
•
Other Brucellaceae include Mycoplana,
Ochrobactrum, Pseudochrobactrum,
Paenochrobactrum, and Crabtreella.
•
Ten currently recognized species (often with strong
host‐specificity) further divided into biovars
•
Members of the Rhizobiales are similar enough to
generate false positives (eg
Agrobacterium
tumefaciens
)