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Division of Foodborne, Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases (DFBMD)
Bacterial Zoonoses Branch
The Bacterial Zoonoses Branch is organized into programs on zoonotic and nontuberculous mycobacterial infections, and unexplained critical illness and deaths. In the context of these programs, the Branch provides assistance in control of epidemics and exploit opportunities to improve control and prevention of bacterial, zoonotic diseases (including anthrax, brucellosis, and leptospirosis) and mycobacterial infections other than tuberculosis (Hansen’s Disease and Buruli Ulcer); provides reference and diagnostic activities for agents causing these diseases and for the identification of unknown bacterial isolates associated with human and animal disease; develops, implements and evaluates prevention strategies for these diseases; and collaborates with other domestic public health partners within and external to the agency at local, state, and federal levels, with international partners such as Ministers of Health, WHO, and PAHO, and with private industry and other governmental organizations involved in public health.
Surveillance and epidemiologic investigation:
Anthrax, brucellosis, and Hansen’s Disease are nationally notifiable diseases in the United States; states and territories report cases to CDC through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System. Reported weekly case counts can be found in the MMWR Weekly Report, with the year-end report in the Annual Summary of Notifiable Diseases. In collaboration with state or international public health partners, including animal health partners for zoonotic diseases, Branch scientists conduct investigations of outbreaks or unusual occurrences of these and other bacterial zoonotic or other emerging diseases, identifying risk factors for infection and control and prevention measures.
Pathogen discovery and characterization of unusual bacterial pathogens and novel causes of critical illness and unexplained death:
As the home of the Special Bacteriology Reference Laboratory, the Branch provides national and international support for the identification and characterization of unusual or novel bacterial pathogens, and investigates unusual clusters of human illness associated with these pathogens.
Laboratory activities for bacterial zoonoses:
The Zoonoses and Select Agent Laboratory provides reference diagnostics, assay development – including development of rapid reliable methods for isolate identification and disease diagnosis, and development of reliable methods for subtyping for epidemiologic and forensic analysis – training, and support for epidemiologic investigations for Bacillus anthracis and close relatives, Brucella spp, pathogenic Burkholderia spp., and Leptospira spp.
Scientific support for CDC’s terrorism preparedness and emergency response:
As the agency experts on the epidemiology and pathogen characteristics of several identified bioterror threats and the diseases caused by them, Branch epidemiologists and laboratory scientists provide scientific input to the bioterrorism preparedness programs at CDC for anthrax (Bacillus anthracis), brucellosis (Brucella spp.), melioidosis (Burkholderia pseudomallei), and glanders (Burkholderia mallei).
Content Source: National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases (ZVED)
Program Contents
Contact Information
1600 Clifton Road NE
MS-C09
Atlanta, GA 30333
Phone: +1-800-311-1603