Brucellosis in animals
Brucellosis, also called undulant fever or Maltese fever is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by ingestion of unsterilised milk or meat from infected animals or close contact with their secretions.
BRUCELLOSIS, ALSO called undulant fever or Maltese fever is a highly contagious zoonosis caused by ingestion of unsterilised milk or meat from infected animals or close contact with their secretions. Brucella spp are small, gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming rods, which function as facultative intracellular parasites that cause chronic disease, which usually persists for life. Brucellosis has been recognised in both animals and humans since the 19th century. Brucellosis in animals
Brucellosis in cattleThe bacterium Brucella abortus is the principal cause of brucellosis in cattle. The bacteria are shed from an infected animal at or around the time of calving or abortion. Once exposed, the likelihood of an animal becoming infected is variable, depending on age, pregnancy status and other intrinsic factors of the animal as well as the amount of bacteria to which the animal was exposed. The most common clinical signs of cattle infected with Brucella abortus are high incidences of abortions, arthritic joints and retained after-birth. There are two main causes for spontaneous abortion in animals. The first is due to erythritol, which can promote infections in the fetus and placenta. Second is due to the lack of anti-Brucella activity in the amniotic fluid. Males can also harbour the bacteria in their reproductive tracts, namely seminal vesicles, ampullae, testicles and epididymides. Dairy herds in the USA are tested at least once a year with the Brucella Milk Ring Test (BRT). Cows that are confirmed to be infected are often killed. In the United States, veterinarians are required to vaccinate all young stock, thereby further reducing the chance of zoonotic transmission. This vaccination is usually referred to as a "calfhood" vaccination. Most cattle receive a tattoo in their ear serving as proof of their vaccination status. This tattoo also includes the last digit of the year they were born. Canada declared their cattle herd brucellosis-free on September 19, 1985. Brucellosis ring testing of milk and cream, as well as testing of slaughter cattle, ended April 1, 1999. Monitoring continues through auction market testing, standard disease reporting mechanisms and testing of cattle being qualified for export to countries other than the USA. The first state-federal cooperative efforts towards eradication of brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus in the US began in 1934.
Brucellosis in the Greater Yellowstone areaWild bison and elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA) are the last remaining reservoir of Brucella abortus in the US. The recent transmission of brucellosis from elk to cattle in Idaho and Wyoming illustrates how brucellosis in wildlife in the GYA may negatively affect cattle. Eliminating brucellosis from this area is a challenge because these animals are on public land and there are many viewpoints involved in the management of these animals.
Brucellosis in dogsThe causative agent of brucellosis in dogs is Brucella canis. It is transmitted to other dogs through breeding and contact with aborted fetuses. Brucellosis can occur in humans that come in contact with infected aborted tissue or semen. The bacteria in dogs normally infect the genitals and lymphatic system, but can also spread to the eye, kidney and intervertebral disc (causing discospondylitis). Symptoms of brucellosis in dogs include abortion in female dogs and scrotal inflammation and orchitis (inflammation of the testicles) in males. Fever is uncommon. Infection of the eye can cause uveitis and infection of the intervertebral disc can cause pain or weakness. Blood testing of the dogs prior to breeding can prevent the spread of this disease. It is treated with antibiotics as with humans but it is difficult to cure.
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