An Imported Case of Brucella melitensis Infection in South Korea

Lee, Jee Young; Jeon, Yongduk; Ahn, Mi Young; Ann, Hea Won; Jung, In Young; Jung, Wooyong; Kim, Moo Hyun; Ahn, Jin Young; Song, Je Eun; Kim, Yong Chan; Oh, Dong Hyun; Kim, Eun Jin; Jeong, Su Jin; Ku, Nam Su; Kim, Hyunsoo; Lee, Kyungwon; Kim, June Myung; Choi, Jun Yong

The incidence of brucellosis worldwide varies from less than 0.03 to 160 per 100,000 persons. Brucellosis has been practically eradicated in developed countries and is now mostly found in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, especially Iraq, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia, as well as areas of Latin America, particularly Mexico and Argentina, the Polynesian islands of Wallis and Futuna, and the Mexico/United States border. It has lately also been found in some Central Asian countries, such as Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. The spread of the disease is attributed to increasing travel between affected countries [13] . The first case of brucellosis in Korea was reported in 2002 [14] . Until now, the major mode of transmission of brucellosis remains unclear. However, brucellosis of Korea seem to be transmitted through close contact with blood, fetus, urine, and placenta of domestic cow that has been infected by B. abortus, or inhalation of B. arbortus while examining or slaughtering cow [15] . This case report details the first incidence of B. melitensis imported to Korea from a patient who recently visited Iraq that resulted in brucellosis and infective spondylitis. In this international era, brucellosis in Korea is no longer limited to B. abortus. In the future, more cases of imported brucellosis are expected due to the fact that many Korean businesses are located in the Middle East, leading to increased exposure to pathogens endemic to this area.