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Characteristics
Morphology Gram negative cocci or small rods,  aerobic, non-motile.
Disease

Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis cause brucellosis. Brucellosis can spread from person to person, and in a few cases, women have passed the disease to their children during birth or through their breast milk. Chronic brucellosis may cause complications in just one organ or throughout your body.
Zoonosis

Yes.
Health Hazards
Host Range Humans and many different wild and domestic animals.
Modes of Transmission
Transmitted in milk, urine and feces but most importantly, amniotic fluids and placenta. Aerosol transmission of concern. Consumption of milk that is not pasteurized.
Signs and Symptoms 

Symptoms of brucelloisis may include intermittent fever, headache, sweats, malaise, anorexia, pain in muschles, joint and/or back and fatique. Symptoms may disappear for weeks or months and then return, and can be chronic even after treatment.
Infectious Dose 10-100 organisms.
Incubation Period  Highly variable; 2-4 weeks; Occasionally several months.
Medical Precautions/Treatment
Prophylaxis
None.
Vaccines
Vaccines not available for use in humans.
Treatment Intramuscular injections of streptomycin and oral doxycycline twice daily for 45 days is the gold standard treatment.
Surveillance
Monitor for symptoms; isolation of organism; serological testing.
MSU Requirements
Report any exposures.
Laboratory Hazards
Laboratory Acquired Infections (LAIs)
Most commonly reported laboratory-acquired infection; 423 cases up to 1976 with 5 deaths.
 Sources
Cultures, blood, tissues, placentas, fetuses, urine, uterine discharges.
Supplemental References
BMBL
 https://www.cdc.gov/labs/bmbl/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/labs/BMBL.html
Canada PSDS
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/lab-bio/res/psds-ftss/index-eng.php
NIH Guidlines
https://osp.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/NIH_Guidelines.pdf
CDC
 http://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/
Risk Group & Containment Requirements
Risk Group 2

Agents that are associated with human disease which is rarely serious and for which preventive or therapeutic interventions are often available.
BSL2
For all procedures involving suspected or known infectious specimen or cultures.
ABSL2
For all procedures utilizing infected animals.
Spill Procedures
Small
Notify others working in the lab. Remove PPE and don new PPE. Cover area of the spill with absorbent material and add fresh 1:10 bleach:water. Allow 20 munutes (or as directed) of contact time. After 20 minutes, cleanup and dispose of materials.
Large
  • Immediately notify all personnel in the lab and clear all personnel from the area. Remove any contaminated PPE/clothing and leave the lab. 
  • Secure the area by locking doors, posting signage and guarding the area to keep people out of the space. 
For assistance, contact MSU's Biosafety Officer (406-994-6733) or Safety and Risk Management (406-994-2711).
Exposure Procedures
Mucous membrane
Flush eyes, mouth, or nose for 5 minutes at eyewash station.
Other Exposures
Wash area with soap and water for 5 minutes.
Reporting
Immediately report incident to supervisor, complete a First Report of Injury form, and submit to Safety and Risk Management.
Medical Follow-up
During business hours: Bridger Occupational Health 3406 Laramie Drive. Weekdays 8am -6pm.  Weekends 9am-5pm
After business hours: Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room 915 Highland Blvd Bozeman, MT
Viability
Disinfection
Susceptible to many disinfectants – 1 % sodium hypochlorite, 70 % ethanol, iodine/alcohol solutions, glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde.
Inactivation
Inactivated by moist heat (1 hour at 121oC) and dry heat (1 hour at 160-170oC).
Survival Outside Host
Carcasses and organs – up to 135 days; paper – 32 days; soil – 125 days; blood 4oC – 180 days.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Minimum PPE Requirements
Lab coat, disposable gloves, safety glasses, closed toed shoes, long pants
Additional Precautions
 Additioanl PPE may be required depending on lab specific SOPs and IBC Protocol.