Bovine brucellosis, caused by Brucella species, is a highly contagious disease of veterinary and medical importance. It poses significant effects on cattle health, reduces productivity, and poses serious threats to public health. The peculiar characteristic of Brucella to survive within the host cells and its ability to evade the immune responses cause major challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and control. Moreover, the zoonotic nature of Brucella is due to the close interaction among livestock animals and humans, especially those who work in proximity to the animals, such as veterinarians and farmers. Various antibiotics have been used over the years to treat brucellosis, but due to their frequent use, scientists have diverted their attention towards more suitable, eco-friendly, sustainable, and immunomodulatory non-antibiotic alternatives such as vaccines, phytochemicals, nanoparticles, probiotics, and most importantly, phage therapy. Vaccines stimulate host immune response and produce antibodies, while phytochemicals and nanoparticles, because of their active chemical constituents, have direct antibacterial effects against Brucella. Similarly, phage therapy causes precise lysis of Brucella while probiotics and prebiotics improve gut microbiota and reduce the burden of pathogens. Finally, the review article highlights future directions, including the use of advanced vaccines, omics-based diagnostics, and artificial intelligence-based systems to increase control measures and decrease zoonotic transmission.

To Cite This Article: Mohamed K, 2025. Brucella-host interactions in cattle: zoonotic transmission, immunological insights and non-antibiotic strategies. Pak Vet J, 45(2): 527-735. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2025.183