Intrauterine fetal death due to Brucella melitensis infection: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species In pregnant women, this disease may lead to adverse obstetric outcomes, such as abortion, preterm delivery, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), and congenital brucellosis. However, only a few studies have reported IUFD due to Brucella. In our case, one woman residing in Guangxi Province, China—a non-endemic region—developed symptoms 11 months after exposure. The disease manifested during her pregnancy—Brucella melitensis was identified via blood culture and confirmed by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Despite receiving antibiotic treatment for brucellosis, she subsequently experienced IUFD. Additionally, we reviewed cases of IUFD secondary to brucellosis in the literature published until December 2024. Only three cases from the literature were enrolled in this study, which demonstrates that Brucella-related IUFD can occur in non-endemic zones, underscoring the need for increased clinical awareness.