The bacteria are often spread through contact with aborted fetuses, placentas, or vaginal discharges. In the United States, wildlife reservoirs like bison and elk in the Yellowstone area maintain the pathogen, occasionally transmitting it back to livestock. Zoonotic Transmission and Human Health
Reduced milk production and the birth of weak calves further compound agricultural losses.
In humans, it can cause a debilitating, chronic illness characterized by undulant fever, joint pain, and fatigue. abortus
Infected animals frequently experience decreased fertility and retained placentas.
In its primary host, cattle, B. abortus typically localizes in the reproductive tract. The hallmark clinical signs of infection include: The bacteria are often spread through contact with
Humans typically acquire B. abortus through direct contact with infected animals or the consumption of .
The bacterium's ability to persist inside host macrophages makes it difficult to treat, often requiring long-term combination antibiotic therapy. In humans, it can cause a debilitating, chronic
Contagious abortion, often occurring in the last trimester of pregnancy, is the most common sign.