What does brucella mean?
Brucella is a genus of small, non-motile, rod-shaped bacteria responsible for brucellosis, one of the most widespread bacterial infections passed from animals to humans. Several species are recognized, including Brucella abortus (cattle), B. melitensis (goats and sheep), and B. suis (pigs), each named after its principal host. Humans typically become infected by drinking unpasteurized milk or eating soft cheese made from it, or through direct contact with infected animals or their tissues, making the disease an occupational hazard for farmers, veterinarians, and slaughterhouse workers. In humans, brucellosis produces undulant fever, marked by recurring fevers, sweating, and fatigue, and it can persist for months if untreated. The genus was named after David Bruce, the Scottish physician who identified the organism in 1887 while studying Mediterranean fever on Malta. Today brucella remains a concern chiefly in regions where pasteurization is not universal, and it is also studied as a potential biological agent.
nounA genus of small, rod-shaped bacteria that cause brucellosis, an infectious disease transmitted to humans chiefly from cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs through unpasteurized dairy products or close contact with infected animals.
- The bacterial genus Brucella, the causative agent of brucellosis in animals and humans.
- (informal) An individual organism or strain belonging to this genus.
"The outbreak was traced to brucella in unpasteurized goat cheese."
"Laboratory tests confirmed the presence of Brucella in the raw milk sample."
"Veterinarians vaccinate herds to keep brucellae out of the food supply."
The Latin-style plural 'brucellae' is standard in scientific contexts; 'brucellas' occasionally appears informally but is less preferred.
"Several species of brucellae infect domestic livestock worldwide."
Brucella is named after David Bruce, the Scottish physician who discovered it while investigating a devastating fever sweeping British soldiers on Malta.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of brucella
The name Brucella honors David Bruce (1855–1931), the Scottish pathologist and army doctor who first isolated the organism in 1887 from soldiers suffering undulant fever on Malta. The suffix -ella is the Latin diminutive, so the name essentially means 'Bruce's little one', following the convention of naming newly discovered microbes after their discoverers. The related term brucellosis was formed from the same root to name the disease the bacterium causes.
Related word forms
How brucella is actually used
Primarily a scientific and medical term; in general writing it appears most often in discussions of food safety and zoonotic disease. When referring to the genus formally, it is capitalized and italicized (Brucella); lowercase 'brucella' is common informally for individual bacteria or strains.
Easily confused with brucella
Brucella is the bacterium itself, while brucellosis is the disease it causes.
Salmonella is a different bacterial genus that causes food poisoning, whereas Brucella causes brucellosis via contaminated animal products.