Background: Reports suggest that perinatal infection with Brucella abortus does not cause poor obstetric outcomes, because of protective mechanisms in the human, not seen in animal species.
Case: We report a case of maternal brucellosis resulting in preterm labor, chorioamnionitis, placental abruption, and delivery of a live-born infant at 25 weeks' gestational age. Both maternal blood cultures and amniotic fluid cultures were positive for B abortus species, and delivery occurred despite aggressive antibiotic and tocolytic therapy.
Conclusion: Maternal infection with B abortus during pregnancy can lead to significant perinatal morbidity, casting doubt on reports that human pregnancy is resistant to such infection.