Brucellosis is primarily a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella species. There are currently ten Brucella spp. based on pathogenicity, host preferences and phenotypic characteristics, which are: B. abortus, B. melitensis, B. suis, B. canis, B. ovis, B. neotomae, B. ceti, B. pinnipedialis, B. microti, and Brucella inopinata. Although, brucellosis is endemic in most areas of the world, in much of Northern Europe, Australia, the US and Canada it has been eradicated or virtually eradicated from livestock following lengthy and expensive control programs. In the Middle East and North Africa region, conflict, associated breakdowns in veterinary public health systems and unrestricted animal transportation through open borders have promoted the re-emergence of brucellosis. Human brucellosis is considered as the most prevalent bacterial zoonosis in the world, with more than 500,000 new reported cases in humans each year, mainly in Mediterranean countries, Central Asia, Arabic Peninsula, India, and Latin America. Although some countries have effectively controlled brucellosis, new areas of human brucellosis have emerged in areas such as central Asia. Preventive measures require surveillance, animal control, and increased use of the brucellosis vaccine for animals at risk. There is no human vaccine for brucellosis and the occurrence of brucellosis is directly linked to the status of animal brucellosis in a region. In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the development of a human vaccine, besides the implementation of control and eradication programs in animals, as a high priority.

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