Brucellosis
Brucellosis is a highly contagious bacterial disease affecting cattle, swine, goats, and sheep.
STAR IDAZ Approach
Brucellosis is a significant zoonotic disease that affects livestock and humans globally. The STAR IDAZ IRC is dedicated to addressing this challenge through a structured roadmap for vaccine development. This roadmap guides the research and development of effective and safe vaccines to prevent Brucellosis. By coordinating international efforts, STAR IDAZ aims to advance the creation of vaccines that can be widely implemented to control and eventually eradicate the disease, improving both animal and public health.
Working group
The Brucellosis Working Group of STAR IDAZ IRC is being reactivated in preparation for the upcoming dedicated workshop to be held in San José, Costa Rica, on 3 November 2025. It brings together leading experts, including members of the International Society for Brucellosis, to review and update the Brucellosis Vaccine Development Roadmap, identify key research gaps, and strengthen international collaboration in the fight against brucellosis.
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Key People
Cynthia Baldwin,
University of Massachusetts (Amherst) United States
Clara Marín Alcalá,
Centro de Investigación y Tecnologia Agroalimentaria de Aragón Spain
Ruth Zadoks,
Sydney School of Veterinary Science Australia
Reports
Reports and outcomes from meetings and workshops
Research roadmaps and gap analyses
Gap analysis summary
The brucellosis vaccine research roadmap, first published in 2018, identified the main scientific challenges in developing improved vaccines for B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis. This initial gap analysis explored a wide range of vaccine approaches from rationally attenuated live vaccines and killed or inactivated options, to DNA, subunit, and vectored platforms, as well as the need to identify protective antigens, virulence factors, and immune correlates of protection. It also highlighted the importance of understanding host–pathogen interactions, improving delivery systems and adjuvants, and ensuring safety in pregnant animals and mixed-species contexts.
The upcoming workshop in San José, Costa Rica, on 3 November 2025, alongside the Brucellosis International Conference, will be the first major opportunity since 2018 to revisit these priorities. This interactive session will bring leading experts together to conduct a fresh high-level gap analysis, update the research roadmap, and agree on strategic directions for future collaborative work on brucellosis.
Projects
Displaying 4 of 21 projects
VIEW ALL PROJECTSThe epidemiology of Brucella melitensis in dairy herds in Israel and development of a risk‑based surveillance & control program
Planned Completion date 01/01/2024
India
Development of Improved Diagnostic and Control Strategies for Brucellosis in Livestock and Wildlife
Planned Completion date 06/10/2026
United States
Multi-sector strategy for combatting brucellosis in East Africa
Planned Completion date 31/08/2021
Denmark
Training towards Personalized Antibiotic Treatment
Planned Completion date 31/08/2024
Europe
Recent publications
Reports and outcomes from meetings and workshops
A detailed review of bovine brucellosis
Molecular epidemiology, immunobiology, genomics and proteomics insights into bovine brucellosis
Improving Bovine Brucellosis Diagnostics: Rapid, Accurate Detection via Blood Serum Infrared Spectroscopy and Machine Learning
Unveiling the epidemiology and community perspectives on bovine brucellosis in North Shewa, Central Highlands of Ethiopia