The Role of Neutrophils in Brucellosis

Abstract

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of domestic animals and humans. The pathogenic ability of Brucella organisms relies on their stealthy strategy and their capacity to replicate within host cells and to induce long-lasting infections. Brucella organisms barely induce neutrophil activation and survive within these leukocytes by resisting microbicidal mechanisms. Very few Brucella -infected neutrophils are found in the target organs, except for the bone marrow, early in infection.