What is a documented, although rare, route for human-to-human transmission of brucellosis?
Answer
Congenital transmission from mother to unborn child
While brucellosis is primarily transmitted from animals to humans, there are rare instances of transmission between people. Congenital transmission, where an infected mother passes the bacteria to her fetus during pregnancy, is a recognized, though infrequent, pathway. Other documented, but rare, routes include transmission via sexual contact and potential transmission through breast milk. These pathways are clinically significant because they alert healthcare providers to consider these possibilities when diagnosing patients who do not have a clear history of direct contact with infected animals.
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