author(s)
Priyanka, Brij Nandan Shringi and Sudhir Kumar Kashyap

abstract
Brucellosis is a highly contagious disease impacting the dairy sector in India as it causes reproductive impairment in the form of abortion storms, retained placentae and infertility. This paper gives an overview of the bovine brucellosis on Indian context including the factors involved in the spread of infection, besides highlighting the need to implement strict surveillance and control measures taking those developed countries as a model in which the disease has been eradicated through improved hygiene, test and slaughter policy, vaccination and monitoring of animal movements. The paper further discusses the background information on the aetiology including the historical overview, microbiological or phenotypic characteristics, taxonomy, antigenic components, pathogenesis and host immunity against Brucella. There is a further need to study and understand the differential immune-mediated responses in different Brucella spp. as well as hosts to unravel the newer aspects of diagnosis, treatment and vaccine development.