CLINICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL FEATURES OF BRUCELLOSIS IN DIFFERENT CLINICAL FORMS

Аннотация

Brucellosis is a zoonotic bacterial infection caused by microorganisms of the genus Brucella. The disease is characterized by considerable clinical heterogeneity, ranging from an acute febrile illness to prolonged and relapsing forms with involvement of the osteoarticular, hepatobiliary, cardiovascular, genitourinary, and nervous systems. The variability of clinical manifestations is closely associated with the ability of Brucella spp. to survive and replicate within host cells, particularly macrophages, and to modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. Cellular immunity, especially the Th1-mediated response, plays a central role in controlling intracellular Brucella infection. Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-12 (IL-12) contribute to macrophage activation and bacterial clearance, whereas regulatory mechanisms involving interleukin-10 (IL-10) may limit excessive inflammation but, under certain conditions, facilitate persistence of the pathogen.