Common Name(s):
Malta Fever, Undulant Fever
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Brucellosis (CLINICAL)
Description
Brucella bacteria are highly specialized intracellular parasites that easily evade standard immune defenses by hiding inside the host's own macrophages. It primarily affects agricultural workers, veterinarians, and those consuming raw goat or sheep milk in endemic geographic regions. The disease causes a chronic, relapsing systemic illness that can persist stubbornly for months or years.