Canine Brucellosis

Description

Canine brucellosis is caused by the intracellular gram negative bacteria B. canis. The disease predominantly affects the reproductive system causing abortion and infertility in females and epididymitis and inferttlity in males. Other systems can also be affected, causing uveitis, discospondylitis, dermatitis and osteomyelitis.

Animals are infected when the organism gains entry to the body at mucus membranes: vaginal, oral and conjunctival. Macrophages then phagocytose B. canis which targets lymphoid and genital tissue. A transient lymphoid hyperplasia and hyperglobinemia develop in the early stages of infection followed by a bactereamia 1-4 weeks post initial infection which can persist for up to 5 years.

Signalment

The prevalence of brucellosis is relatively low (1-8% in the U.S); areas affceted include the U.S, Japan, South America, Spain, Tunisia and Germany. The disease is more common in stray animals and breeding kennels. There is no breed susceptibility reported but beagles are over represented in cases in the U.S. The disease usually affects sexually mature animals and females more than males.

Diagnosis

Clinical Signs

Female:

• Abortion
• Postabortion vaginal discharge
• Early embryonic loss

Male:

• Scrotal enlargement
• Epididymitis
• Seminal abnormalities
• Testicular atrophy
• Infertility

• • Abortions, decreased fertility, reduced litter sizes, neonatal mortality
  • Orchitis and epididymitis causing infertility in male dogs
  • Infertility may be permanent if chronic infection

Laboratory Tests

• • Slide agglutination, ELISA, agar gel immunodiffusion

Treatment

• • Neuter infected animals

References

• Merck & Co (2008) The Merck Veterinary Manual (Eighth Edition) Merial
• Nelson, R.W. and Couto, C.G. (2009) Small Animal Internal Medicine (Fourth Edition) Mosby Elsevier
• Tilley, L.P. and Smith, F.W.K.(2004)The 5-minute Veterinary Consult (Third edition) Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins