Isolation of Brucella melitensis from a human case of chronic additive polyarthritis.

ABSTRACT

Brucellar arthritis remains under diagnosed owing to non‑specific clinical manifestations. Here, we report isolation of Brucella melitensis from synovial fluid of 5th metatarsophalangeal joint of a 39‑year‑old lady having unusually chronic asymmetric, additive, peripheral polyarthritis. This isolation was confirmed by Bruce‑Ladder polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The patient had a history of contact with an aborted goat. Rose Bengal Plate Agglutination Test (RBPT) and Standard Tube Agglutination Test (SAT) were positive for Brucella‑specific antibodies both for patient and in contact with sheep and goats. The patient was treated with doxycycline and rifampicin for 16 weeks and was recovered fully.