Expected use
The rapid brucellosis test is a chromatographic immunoassay (CIA) for the direct qualitative detection of brucellosis antibodies in human serum or plasma.
Summary and explanation
Brucellosis is a strictly aerobic gram-negative coccobacillus that causes brucellosis. This organism is sometimes carried by animals and only causes incidental infections in humans. The four species of this genus that can infect humans are named after the animal in which they are most frequently found: B. abortus (cattle), B. suis (pigs), B. melitensis (goats), B. canis (dogs). The livestock and dairy industries appear to be the main source of infection in the United States.
Brucellosis can enter the body through the skin, respiratory tract, or digestive tract. Once there, this intracellular organism can enter the blood and lymphatics where it multiplies within phagocytes and eventually causes bacteremia (bacterial blood infiltration). Symptoms vary from patient to patient, but can include high fever, chills, and sweating. Affected people are usually treated with streptomycin or erythromycin.
