Brucellaisolated in humans and animals in Latin America from 1968 to 2006

Abstract

SUMMARYWe report a retrospective analysis of 1933Brucellastrains isolated from humans and animals in Latin American countries between 1968 and 1991 and in Argentina between 1994 and 2006. During the first period 50% of strains were from humans, mainly from Argentina, Mexico and Peru but, whileB. suiswas the main cause of infection in Argentina,B. melitensiswas responsible for most infections in the other countries. In Argentina in the later years,B. melitensisandB. suiswere observed more frequently than in the first period while isolation ofB. abortusdecreased. Of 145B. melitensishuman isolates, eight gave susceptibility patterns to dyes and penicillin and two wereB. melitensisbiovar 3, which has never been reported in animals. Forty-six percent ofB. suisisolated were resistant to dyes which is an atypical feature in this species.