[Malta fever in a brucellosis free region: analysis of a malta fever outbreak in the Göttingen area 1982].

During April/Mai 1982 15 patients were affected with acute Malta fever around Goettingen an area known the be brucellosis-free until then. The source of infections were local flocks of sheep. The infections were mainly acquired when assisting at lamb birth or abortions. Between onset and diagnosis of the disease intervals up to 3 month occurred. Diagnostically crucial were blood cultures and serological tests. Therapy with tetracyclines or co-trimoxazole were effective in all cases. In patients with status febrilis and anamnestic contact with brucellosis-prone animals brucellosis should be considered, even if the local area appears to be brucellosis-free.