Loftus, Christopher, Jervis, Jessica, Owen, Victoria, Wingfield, Tom 
ORCID: 0000-0001-8433-6887, Ball, Robert, Wong, Waison, Evans, Ceri ORCID: 0000-0001-9122-9748, Darlow, Christopher ORCID: 0000-0002-5400-3413, Liuzzi, Francesca, Batley, Susan et al (show 3 more authors)
(2025)
A Family Cluster of Imported Human Brucella melitensis Infection with Probable Breast Milk Transmission: A Case Series
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE, 10 (8).
227-.
ISSN 2414-6366, 2414-6366
Abstract
Human brucellosis is a zoonotic, bacterial infection caused by the intracellular, Gram-negative Brucella spp., which is common globally but rare in the United Kingdom, with approximately 20 imported cases per annum following travel to countries with high endemicity. Transmission typically occurs via the ingestion of infected animal products, including unpasteurised dairy products. Human-to-human transmission is rare, and routes include postpartum vertical transmission through breastfeeding. We report here on a familial cluster of three cases within a single UK-based Kurdish household of four, including a 11-month-old infant infected through the consumption of breast milk. Four months prior to presentation, the family had travelled together to northern Iraq for a 5-week holiday and all consumed local dairy products except for the children, including the 11-month-old, who was exclusively breastfed at the time. All three patients, including one adult male with complicated brucellosis, had a favourable outcome with medical therapy.: Brucellosis is an important differential diagnosis in returning travellers and specialist advice should be obtained early to prevent sequelae. It is also important for active case-finding, especially in family units with shared exposure. Paediatricians and adult physicians who may manage brucellosis should consider the possibility of vertical transmission in breastfeeding mothers.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | brucellosis, travel medicine and migrant health, bacteria and bacterial infections |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology > Inst. Systems, Molec & Integrative Biology |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 26 Aug 2025 07:18 |
| Last Modified: | 22 May 2026 22:20 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/tropicalmed10080227 |
| Open Access URL: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/10/8/227 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3194139 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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