What does Brucellosis cause?

What does Brucellosis cause?

• A. Respiratory viral disease that causes infertility.
• B. A sterile female calf born twin to a male calf.
• C. A decrease in the production of sperm in the male.
• D. Abortions typically in the second half of pregnancy.

Answer: (D)

Brucellosis is a reproductive infection caused by Brucella bacteria that commonly leads to abortion in late pregnancy. In affected animals, the bacteria infect the placenta and fetus, causing placentitis and fetal loss, which most often occurs during the second half of gestation. While it can also affect fertility and cause other reproductive issues (such as epididymal problems in males), the hallmark that exams emphasize is abortions that occur in the later stages of pregnancy. The other options don’t fit this typical pattern: it isn’t a respiratory viral disease, nor is it primarily described as a sterile female calf born twin to a male (that’s freemartinism), and while Brucella can impact male fertility, the characteristic, testable manifestation is abortion in the second half of pregnancy.

Brucellosis is a reproductive infection caused by Brucella bacteria that commonly leads to abortion in late pregnancy. In affected animals, the bacteria infect the placenta and fetus, causing placentitis and fetal loss, which most often occurs during the second half of gestation. While it can also affect fertility and cause other reproductive issues (such as epididymal problems in males), the hallmark that exams emphasize is abortions that occur in the later stages of pregnancy.

The other options don’t fit this typical pattern: it isn’t a respiratory viral disease, nor is it primarily described as a sterile female calf born twin to a male (that’s freemartinism), and while Brucella can impact male fertility, the characteristic, testable manifestation is abortion in the second half of pregnancy.