What is the most common clinical finding in livestock affected by brucellosis?

What is the most common clinical finding in livestock affected by brucellosis?

• A. Abortions in livestock
• B. Blindness
• C. Lameness
• D. Cough

Answer: (A)

Abortions in livestock are the most common clinical sign of brucellosis because Brucella bacteria have a strong affinity for the reproductive tract and cause placental infection and placentitis. This leads to fetal loss, especially in late pregnancy, and can occur as abortion storms in a herd. While animals may show other issues such as infertility, epididymitis in males, arthritis, or occasional ocular involvement, these are less consistent and rarer. Abortion is the hallmark feature that drives diagnosis and control measures, since aborted material and vaginal discharges shed large amounts of the bacteria, facilitating transmission.

Abortions in livestock are the most common clinical sign of brucellosis because Brucella bacteria have a strong affinity for the reproductive tract and cause placental infection and placentitis. This leads to fetal loss, especially in late pregnancy, and can occur as abortion storms in a herd. While animals may show other issues such as infertility, epididymitis in males, arthritis, or occasional ocular involvement, these are less consistent and rarer. Abortion is the hallmark feature that drives diagnosis and control measures, since aborted material and vaginal discharges shed large amounts of the bacteria, facilitating transmission.