Abstract
Brucellosis is one of the zoonotic bacterial disease that poses a threat to public health. It is transmitted to humans through the consumption of unpasteurized milk and dairy products. This study aims to detect the presence of Brucella bacteria in the samples of milk and by products (yogurt and cheese) taken from cows and ewes in Karbala and Babylon governorates. This study used specialized culture media and gene sequencing technology to extreme precision to identify bacterial species and biochemical tests for first diagnosis. The study started from October /2024 until April/2025 , 300 samples of milk and milk products (yogurt and cheese) were collected from cows and ewes The results showed varying in rates of infection between the two governorates, with the highest infection rate recorded in the Babylon governorate compared to Karbala. Gene sequencing results also proved that all positive isolates were of the Brucella melitensis species, that most common cause of infection in humans. This study confirms as the real risk of disease transmission through the consumption of unpasteurized local dairy products, highlighting the importance of health monitoring and early diagnosis to limit the spread of the infection