Brucella melitensis infection is recognized as a significant public health challenge, with a major economic and financial burden in countries where the disease remains endemic. In Eurasia and the Middle East Brucella melitensis infections in sheep and goats are still widespread, resulting in significant human illness, primarily from consumption of contaminated dairy products or from occupational exposure to infected livestock. In small ruminants (sheep and goats), abortion, reduced fertility, reduced milk production and lowered newborn viability are the major impacts.

There are very significant benefits to human health and poverty alleviation from controlling and eradicating B. melitensis infections in animals and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been responsible for advancing practical knowledge and experience on brucellosis in various countries and assisting in the development of sound strategies and policies for sustainable control programmes. As part of these efforts a technical meeting of brucellosis experts was convened in Rome from 11 to 14 May 2009 by the FAO in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), in order to develop further guidance to support and improve surveillance and control of Brucella melitensis infection in affected countries.

This document provides an account on the objectives, discussions and outcomes of the meeting and provides an up to date account of the available options for the prevention and control of B. melitensis as well as the identified gaps that still need to be addressed.

Table of contents





Acronyms and abbreviations

1. Introducion

2. Objectives and expected outcomes

3. Summaries of presentations

3.1 Overview of the epidemiology and control of Brucella melitensis in the Middle East and Eurasia
3.2 Field experience with the control of Brucella melitensis from selected countries
3.3 Evaluation of old and new tools for diagnosis and control of Brucella melitensis infections
3.4 Public health issues and intersectoral collaboration

4. Outcomes of the meeting

4.1 Diagnostic tools for surveillance in animals and humans
4.2 Control strategies
4.3 Crosscutting issues
4.4 Disease control economics: from plan to programme

5. Conclusions

Annexes

1. Brucella melitensis tool box
2. Key publications and references
3. Programme
4. List of participants

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal or development status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply that these have been endorsed or recommended by FAO in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned.

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