ABSTRACT
The immunology and pathophysiology of human brucellosis is a difficult and challenging subject to review. The immune response induced by Brucella is complex, involving both humoral and cellular effectors. The immune response appears to be crucial in the polymorphic clinical manifestations of the disease, and in the ultimate evolution of the infection. Cell-mediated immunity has also been recognized for many years, and it is thought by some to indicate infection. The chapter discusses the host response to Brucella infection in terms of protective effects, pathogenic effects, and the role of the genetic background. Human brucellosis is characterized by a great diversity of clinical manifestations. In human brucellosis there are few definitive data regarding the role of immune mechanisms in the pathogenesis of lesions.
