Hamadan University of Medical Sciences Avicenna Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2383-0298 10 1 2023 03 29 Investigation and Follow-up of Brucellosis in Seropositive Patients and Their Families in Hamadan Province, Iran 9 12 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3449 EN Mohammad Yousef Alikhani https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4577-4029 Maryam Adabi Fariba Keramat https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2174-2495 Abbas Moghimbaigi https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3803-3663 Sima Kazemi https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1995-9361 Somaye Shiralizadeh https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1135-2311 Journal Article 10.34172/ajcmi.2023.3449 2023 03 19 2023 03 23 Background: Brucellosis is recognized as one of the most prevalent diseases among humans and animals. This study investigated and followed up brucellosis in seropositive participants in the Famenin (Hamadan province, Iran) cohort of brucellosis and their families by culture and serology methods. Methods: Blood samples were taken from 66 subjects, including 18 subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers≥1:180 and 36 subjects from their families and 12 subjects in the Famenin brucellosis cohort study with antibody titers<1:80. In the serological method, standard tube agglutination test (STAT positive with≥1:80) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) test (positive with≥1:40) were performed using the patient serum. Finally, 8 cc of the blood of all subjects was used for culture in the BACTEC culture medium. Results: Of the 66 serum samples, 20 (30.3%) samples, including 5, 4, and 10 samples at 1:20, 1:40, and 1:80 dilution, respectively, and 1 sample at 1:160 dilution were positive by the STAT, of which 13 (65%) samples belonged to patients’ family members. Using the 2-ME test, 10 (15.2%) serum samples were positive, of which 5 (50%) cases were related to patients’ family members. Eventually, no growth of Brucella was observed in 66 flasks of the BACTEC culture medium. Conclusion: Considering that a definite diagnostic method is not yet accessible, a combination of methods must be applied to diagnose the disease.