Explore the recorded discovery and history of Brucella melitensis, with source links and stated limits.
PHAC describes Brucella as Gram-negative cocci or small rods, aerobic, non-motile and urease positive, with transmission by ingestion, direct contact via skin abrasions and mucous membranes, and inhalation; the host range covers humans, cattle, swine, goats, sheep, deer, caribou, elk, dogs and coyotes. The LPSN etymology records that the species epithet melitensis refers to the Island of Malta, where the organism was first isolated by Bruce in 1893. PHAC describes a systemic illness with intermittent fever, headache, weakness, profuse sweating, chills and joint pain, a case-fatality rate of less than 2% for untreated cases and a potentially long recovery, and an incubation period that is highly variable at 5 to 60 days and occasionally several months.
LPSN records the basonym “Streptococcus melitensis” Hughes 1893, and its etymology notes that the epithet melitensis means of or pertaining to the Island of Malta (Melita) where the organism was first isolated by Bruce in 1893. The name therefore records where the first isolation happened, not where the organism originated.
LPSN records Brucella melitensis (Hughes 1893) Meyer and Shaw 1920, retained on the 1980 Approved Lists of Bacterial Names. Type strain 16M / ATCC 23456 / NCTC 10094. The genus honours David Bruce.
These references do not identify a first person ever infected. Malta is where the organism was first isolated, which is a laboratory milestone rather than the origin of the species or the site of the first human infection.
Source check: 2026-09-20. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.