Combating brucellosis - new trends and new challenges

Aim: To present an overview of epidemiology, diagnostics, control and new challenges of brucellosis
from the aspect, experiences and challenges of a small country from endemic area as a contribution of combating brucellosis on a global level. Also present a novel reservoirs as a new challenge combating brucellosis.
Material and Methods
Review on epidemiology, various diagnostic methods, assessment upon experience with different measures and approaches to control brucellosis in animals affecting spreading brucellosis in humans.
Results and Discussion
Implementing vaccination for small ruminants (sheep and goats), as a control strategy instead former strategy of “test and slaughter”, gives significants results in decreasing the epizooty in animals and human morbidity, in a relative short time, but imperative is to continue with that measures.
Diagnostics would not be a problem due continuously education of veterinary and medical personnel and population, and implementation of various diagnostic tests in most laboratories. Isolation and identification of Brucella spp., as a “gold standard” is not routinely implemented, but isolation with new systems for blood cultures and identification with automated identification, occasionally happens. The number of novel Brucella species, isolated more recently from marine mammals, raised many questions about their origin as well as on the evolutionary history and taxonomy of the genus.
The optimal treatment of human brucellosis is still debatable. The preferred treatment should be with dual or triple regimens including an aminoglycoside, to avoid treatment failure and relapses, serious complications, or residual damage from focal disease.

Conclusions
Effective control of brucellosis requires implementation a long term effective control measures. Cooperation of multi-sectorial governmental agencies and cooperation between all countries in endemic region is necessary. International assistance in resources and expertise are more than welcome. Potential of new species to cause disease in humans remains brucellosis continuously challenge as re-emerging zoonosis. A large number of diagnostic tests have been implemented, but new species may require new tests.

Key words: brucellosis, diagnostics, vaccination, control.