Background: Brucellosis in humans is an infectious disease which may
occur following contact with infected domestic animals or the ingestion of unpasteurized
dairy products. It has rarely been described in pregnancy. The diagnosis, neuropsychiatric
manifestations, and management of brucellosis in a 3rd-trimester pregnant woman are
discussed.Case: A 24-year-old Mexican female, G3P2002,
at 30 weeks gestation
presented with fever, shaking chills, night sweats, a non-productive cough, weakness,
nausea, vomiting, anorexia, and vague, dull, upper abdominal pain as well as neuropsychiatric
findings. Extensive evaluation revealed serologic and culture evidence of Brucella infection.
Her worsening neuropsychiatric condition necessitated preterm delivery with
satisfactory neonatal and improved maternal outcomes.Conclusion: Bacteriologic infection of pregnant women with
neuropsychiatric manifestations should prompt a careful investigation, and brucellosis
should be considered if there is a travel history possibly compatible with contact with
domestic animals or the ingestion of unpasteurized dairy products.
