A Rare Osteoarticular Brucellosis in Gonabad City, Iran: A Case Report

Species of bacteria brucellosis, which can infect humans, are Brucella abortus, B melitensis, B. suis and rarely B. canis.

A 71-year-old woman with severe pain in the limbs, especially the left pelvic pain was admitted to 22-Bahman hospital in Gonabad, Iran. The patient’s Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) was 100 and C-reactive protein (CRP) had positive finding. Urea- creatinine, liver enzymes, U/A and U/C had normal results. A signal change in the soft tissue adjacent to the posterior surface of the vertebral body L4-L5 was observed. According to Wright and 2 Mercaptoethanol (ME) negative results, patient was re-introduced to neurosurgeon. Due to severe bone pain, radiotherapy was stopped and she was referred for treatment with bone tuberculosis diagnosis to a health center in Gonabad city, Iran. Daily streptomycin was started for patient and after 10 days, she referred to health center with a good general health status and without pelvic pain.

Prominent musculoskeletal complaints (especially back pain) accompanied by constitutional symptoms such as fever, malaise and weight loss may be consistent with brucellosis.