[Brucellosis part 1 - etiology, epizootiology, epidemiology, and laboratory diagnosis].

Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis characterized by a variable clinical presentation. The disease is endemic in many popular tourist destinations visited by Czech citizens. Approximately 300 cases of brucellosis are reported annually in Europe; in the Czech Republic, only a few cases are recorded each year, all of which are imported. The Czech Republic is free of brucellosis in livestock. However, Brucella suis still occurs in the country's wildlife, particularly in the European hare. Laboratory diagnosis of the disease relies primarily on serological tests, as direct identification of the pathogen from clinical material is less frequently successful. Serology offers a range of tests that differ in their diagnostic value for various stages of the disease and specific pathogen species. Today, the genus Brucella includes numerous species, but four representatives are of significance to human health: B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis, and B. canis. Keywords: zoonosis, imported infections, Brucella melitensis, Brucella abortus, Brucella suis Brucella canis.