1
Return

Natural history of latent brucellosis and diagnostic performance of B-SPOT: a 24-month prospective cohort study based on large-scale screening in northern China

delete2026-03-17
delete0
delete
OA
AI
H
Hongyu Wang *
Y
Yan O. Wang
G
Guanmin Yuan *
D
Dan Li
Y
Yutong Chen
Y
Yan Wang
Y
Yuhan Sun *
J
Jingjing Zhao *
Y
Yulei Sun *
B
Binhuang Sun *
W
Wei Guo
X
Xiaokun Liu *
H
Hongyan Liu *
J
Jingwen Ai *
W
Wenhong Zhang *
DOI:10.1080/22221751.2026.2637283delete
deleteOriginal
deleteOriginal request for help
deleteShare
deleteSave
Abstract

Abstract

En 中文
Whether latent brucellosis exists prior to symptom onset and predisposes individuals to active disease remains to be determined. We established a novel ELISpot method for brucellosis (B-SPOT) based on host-specific immune. Diagnostic efficacy was evaluated in a testing cohort comprising brucellosis and non-brucellosis participants. A large-scale screening, using serum agglutination test (SAT) and B-SPOT for latent brucellosis, was later performed in Kangping, a brucellosis-endemic area in northern China, followed by a 24-month prospective cohort study to observe the natural development of latent brucellosis without any intervention. Among 41 brucellosis and 57 non-brucellosis participants, the sensitivity of B-SPOT for brucellosis was 95.1%, and the specificity was 98.2%, compared to the combination of blood culture and SAT. 2459 residents were screened, and the prevalence of latent brucellosis was 3.3% (81/2459). Among 63 latent brucellosis cases successfully followed, 33.3% (21/63) progressed to acute brucellosis within 2 years, while none in the control group progressed(p < 0.001). 16/21 (76.2%) progressed within the first six months, and 14/21 (66.7%) presented with joint pain as their initial symptom. B-SPOT (10.94[95%CI 2.48–48.33, p = 0.002]) outperformed SAT (3.04[95%CI 1.14–8.01, p = 0.026]) in predicting the progression of latent brucellosis. Latent brucellosis accounts for 3.3% in the endemic area, among whom 33.3% progressed to acute brucellosis within two years. The first six months are a critical window, and joint pain is the primary initial symptom. B-SPOT demonstrates high diagnostic efficacy for brucellosis disease activity and can better predict the progression of latent brucellosis.
Keywords:
Brucellosis
latent infection
diagnostic evaluation
B-SPOT
ELISpot

Journal

E
Emerging Microbes &amp; Infections
IF:
0
Papers:
1
Citations:
0

Organization

S
sixth people’s hospital of shenyang
Scholars:
1
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
F
fudan university
Scholars:
11.3W
Papers: 7.6W
Citations: 121
T
the people's hospital of kangping
Scholars:
1
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
P
people's hospital of kangping
Scholars:
1
Papers: 1
Citations: 0
T
the sixth people's hospital of shenyang
Scholars:
5
Papers: 2
Citations: 0
Cited Papers

Cited Papers

Citing Papers

Citing Papers