| Brucella melitensis | |
|---|---|
| |
| A photomicrograph of the bacterium Brucella melitensis | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Bacteria |
| Phylum: | Pseudomonadota |
| Class: | Alphaproteobacteria |
| Order: | Hyphomicrobiales |
| Family: | Brucellaceae |
| Genus: | Brucella |
| Species: | B. melitensis
|
| Binomial name | |
| Brucella melitensis (Hughes 1893) Meyer and Shaw 1920 (Approved Lists 1980)
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Brucella neotomae | |
Brucella melitensis is a Gram-negative coccobacillus bacterium from the Brucellaceae family. The bacterium causes ovine brucellosis, along with Brucella ovis. Humans can become infected if they have contact with an infected animal or its byproducts. Animals acquire B. melitensis by venereal transmission.[1] The organism is found in blood, urine, milk, and semen.[1] It is zoonotic, unlike B. ovis, causing Malta fever or localized brucellosis in humans.
- ^ a b "Brucellosis in Goats – Goats". goats.extension.org. Retrieved 2019-12-24.