Brucella infection at cardiac pacemaker site in a patient who had consumed raw caribou meat in Northern Canada

Kanji and Saxinger cite that hunting, butchering and consuming of uncooked caribou meat as part of a traditional diet is common in Northern Canada, and Canadian physicians should be aware of the potential for Brucella suis zoonosis. Brucella species zoonoses, which may also occur after consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, present as either acute or long-term infection; focal infection, for example, infection of implantable devices, is common. If physicians suspect infection with Brucella species, the microbiology laboratory should be notified to ensure specimens are processed appropriately to reduce risk of infection in laboratory workers.