A family cluster of brucellosis in an underserved urban community in Guayaquil city, Ecuador.

Brucellosis is a neglected bacterial zoonosis caused by Brucella spp. with worldwide distribution. Infection typically occurs through direct contact with infected animals or consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, and the global burden of brucellosis is estimated over two million cases per year. In Latin America, brucellosis remains endemic, with important public health and economic consequences. Here, we report a family cluster of brucellosis in Guayaquil, Ecuador, involving six confirmed cases, including pediatric patients. We describe the clinical and epidemiological features of this family cluster and present omp28 sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the index case, highlighting the public health significance of B. abortus transmission in an underserved urban community. The epidemiological link of this urban family cluster to unpasteurized dairy products reinforced the need of an integrated One Health surveillance and control program from brucellosis beyond rural areas.