1. Brucellosis
Navies 2011

2. Brucella The causative agent of Brucellosis
Zoonotic disease in food animals
More prevalent in developing countries
A genus of Gram-negative rods - coccobacillus
Found in 7 different species
B. canis (canine)
B. abortus (equine & bovine)
B. melitensis
B. neotomae
B. ovis
B. suis

3. Etiology Caused by Brucella canis Considered a zoonotic bacteria
Gram negative bacteria
Causes abortions, usually in third trimester of pregnancy
Dogs are the definitive host
Considered a zoonotic bacteria
Human infections are rare
Caution when handling aborted animals
Brucella canis rods

4. History of disease Thought to exist since Roman times
In 1887 Dr. Bruce isolated the organism (hence Brucellosis)
In 1966 Brucella Canis was identified as the causative agent of canine brucellosis

5. B. canis Transmitted through ingestion/ inhalation
Bacterium can be found in:
lymphatic system
genital tract
eye
kidney
intervertebral disks
spleen
Small red coccobacillus in clumps
Associated conditions:
Infertility
Abortions
Diskospondylitis

6. B. canis Signalment Non breed specific Affects males/ females
Sexually mature
5-12mos. Of age

7. B. canis Clinical Signs: Male Female Scrotal swelling/dermatitis
Enlarged epididymis
Testicular atrophy
Abortion
Infertility
Vaginal discharge
1-6 wks postabortion
Male
Female

8. B. canis Clinical Signs:
Primary sign is abortion in last trimester of pregnancy, followed by prolonged vaginal discharge
Infected dogs may develop generalized lymphadenitis
Epididymitis
Periorchitis
Prostatisis
Spondylitis and uveitis are occassional complications
Enlarged Epididymis

9. B. canis Transmission: Can easily penetrate any mucous membrane
Oral, conjunctival or venereal
Infection though oral route is the most common though ingestion of infected material
In a pregnant female the organism goes though the uterus and causes a late abortion
After the abortion, vaginal discharge and the aborted material contain a large number of the bacteria
In males, the urine and semen is where large numbers of bacteria are found

10. Diagnostic tests and expected results
Isolated from vaginal exudate, aborted puppies, blood, milk, semen
Simplest test is Rapid Slide Agglutination Test to look for antibodies against disease

11. B. canis
Diagnosis:
Isolation and identification of the bacteria is the only way to diagnose the disease
Organism can be isolated from:
Vaginal exudate
Aborted puppies
Blood (it takes up to 3 weeks to be detected in blood stream)
Milk
Semen
Widely used tests are agglutination test by tube or slide method
Agar gel immunodiffusion tests used in some laboratories

12. B. canis Recommended Treatment:
Usually unsuccessful and not recommended to eliminate the organism
Long term antibiotics used and show some promise
Animals treated may remain infected after treatment
Doxycycline and an aminoglycoside
Tertacycline and streptomycin
Minocycline and streptomycin

13. B. canis
Prognosis:
Animals can naturally heal but may take up to five years
Relapses can occur and symptoms may occur for several years

14. B. canis
Prevention:
Animals with brucellosis should be neutered/spayed
In large kennels/ shelters daily use of Roccal will kill the bacteria
Keep new animals quarantined before introducing them to other canines.

15. Facts Not common in US; about 100-200 cases each year
More common in countries with no good standardized and effective public health and domestic animal programs, like South and Central America, E. Europe, Asia, Africa
No vaccine in humans
Also known as Canine STD

16. Brucella suis
Swine

17. B. suis Etiology: Caused by Brucella suis Considered zoonotic
Spread by ingesting infected tissues or fluids
Highest prevalence among feral pigs
Can remain in some herds for years
Considered zoonotic
Humans come in contact with bacteria through:
Laboratory work
Farming
Herding
Veterinary work
Though contact with infected animals or tissues
Brucella suis

18. B. suis Signalment: B. suis has no specific signalment
Pigs that are used for breeding do have a high risk of contracting the bacteria

19. B. suis
Transmission:
Pigs that are raised for breeding are a source of infection
Suckling pigs may become infected by means of mother, but most reach weanling age without becoming infected
Can be transmitted by ingestion of feedstuffs that are contaminated by birth and/or abortion products and uterine discharges
Pigs will eat aborted fetuses and membranes
Transmission can occur during copulation or artificial insemination

20. B. suis
Clinical signs:
After exposure to bacteria, pigs develop a bacteremia that may persist for up to 90 days
Localization to various tissues may occur during or after bacteremia
Abortion
Temporary or permanent sterility
Orchitis
Lameness
Posterior paralysis
Spondylitis
Metritis
Abscess formation

21. B. suis Diagnosis: Card test (most accurate) Serum agglutination tests
Complement fixation tests
Entire herds of pigs must be tested rather than individual pigs

22. B. suis Recommended Treatment: No vaccine for Brucella suis
No recommended treatment
Control of transmission is based on test, cull(segregation), and slaughter of infected pigs

23. B. suis Prognosis: Can be eradicated from infected herds by means of:
Depopulation
Tests and removal methods
Quarantine of infected herds

24. B. suis
Prevention:
Keeping domesticated swine herds from coming in contact with wild and feral swine
Test herds and not breeding swine that are infected
Quarantine swine purchased in fairs or other sources until testing can be done

25. B. suis Client Education: Perform regular testing of herds
Purchase swine from reputable sellers
Keep those that are infected in isolation and do not use for breeding
Test semen that will be used for insemination prior to insemination

26. Brucella abortus
Bovine

27. B. abortus- Bovines History:
1895- Bang in Copenhagen isolated the organism Brucella abortus and proved that it caused abortions in cattle
"Bang's abortion”
1917- Yellowstone Nat’l Park documented brucellosis among the bison herd.
1956- Due to a $1 billion eradication program, only the ‘Triple U’ buffalo herd and five infected private cattle herds in Texas and Missouri still harbor brucellosis.
B suis or B melitensis has also rarely been implicated in some cattle herds.

28. B. abortus- Bovine
Signalment:
Males & females
Any age or breed

29. B. abortus- Bovine Transmission: Occurs by ingestion of organisms
Can be present in:
aborted fetuses
fetal membranes
uterine discharges
contaminated feed/water
licking contaminated genitals of other animals
artificial insemination when contaminated semen is deposited in the uterus

30. B. abortus- Bovine Clinical Signs: abortion is the most obvious sign!!
weak or stillborn calves
reduced milk production
retained placentas
agglutinins in the seminal plasma
testicular abscesses in infected bulls
arthritis may result from longstanding infections

31. B. abortus- Bovine Diagnostic Tests:
Herds: bang test/ Brucellosis ring test: Herd’s milk and test for agglutination
Serum agglutinin tests are the standard method of diagnosis
A complete agglutination at a dilution of 1:100 or more is positive for brucellosis in non vaccinated animals.
1:200 is positive for animals vaccinated between 4 to 12 months of age.

32. B. abortus- Bovine Treatment:
Treatment for brucellosis of cattle is not permitted
ALL infected cattle and contacts which have been exposed to infection must be slaughtered.

33. B. abortus- Bovine Pathological lesions:
granulomatous inflammatory lesions are present during a necropsy
Lesions may be present in:
the reproductive tract
udder
supramammary
lymph nodes
joints
synovial membranes.

34. Vaccination
The vaccine is a live product and must be administered only by an accredited veterinarian or State or Federal animal health official.
Brucella vaccine, called Strain RB51, for use in cattle
Female calves should be vaccinated when they are 4 to 6 months old.
At the time of vaccination, a tattoo is applied in the ear; that tattoo identifies the animal as an "official vaccinate." The tattoo identifies the year in which vaccination took place.

35. Brucella abortus
Equine

36. B. abortus- Equine
Reported sporactically in the US over the last 70 yrs
Declined in prevalence due to the Brucellosis Cattle Eradication program
Higher infection rates in:
Texas
Florida
Alabama
Louisiana

37. B. abortus- Equine Signalment: All breeds Males & females
No age descrimination

38. B. abortus- Equine Clinical Signs:
Most commonly manifests as fistulas located in the withers of the horse
A source of exposure to humans
Late term abortions
Non-specific lameness due to joint infections
‘poll evil’

39. B. abortus- Equine Prognosis/ Diagnosis
Unlike B. abortus in cattle, no specific Equine Brucellosis eradication program has ever been implemented.
Samples of infection sites are obtained for cultures
B. abortus is difficult to isolate, so horse must also be tested for evidence of anitbodies to B. abortus.
Titers (plate agglutination) greater than or equal to 1:50 is considered + for this bacteria.

40. B. abortus- Equine Prevention: Neuter/cull infected animals
Quarantine & testing all new animals especially breeding stock

41. Brucellois in Humans
Humans can become infected by coming in contact with infected animals or animal products that are contaminated with this bacteria.
Eating/drinking the organism
Inhalation of the organism (least common)
Through open skin wounds
Slaughterhouse & meat packing plant employees, and hunters are at a higher risk
Direct person-to-person spread is rare but can occur through breast milk, and sexual contact

42. Brucellosis in Humans (Undulant Fever)
Zoonotic cases mostly occur:
in countries where animal disease control programs are in-efficient or non existent
Countries that do not have standardized & effectie public health & domestic animal health programs.
DO NOT EAT: un-pasturized dairy products!!!!!!!!
NO vaccine available for humans
Mortality is low (less than 2%) & is usually associated with endocarditis.
Wear gloves when handling new animals canines & food animals) and beware of bodily fluids!

43. Brucellosis in Humans Causes a wide range of symptoms:
Fever
Sweats
Headaches
Back pains
Physical weakness
Severe infections of the CNS or lining of the heart may occur
Can also cause long- lasting, chronic symptoms that include:
Recurrent fevers, joint pain & fatigue

44. References
Veterinary Technician’s Daily Reference Guide: Canine and Feline. 2nd Edition (pg. 130, ).
Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. (pg. 256).

45. References continued…

46. references www.peteducation.com www.Vetinfo.com www.Medicinenet.com
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