Spreading of Canine Brucellosis in the U.S.
Posted on July 02, 2009 by Nancy Houser
The disease Canine Brucellosis affects the reproduction system of dogs which causes breeding dogs to have abortions, stillbirths, epididymitis, orchitis and sperm abnormalities. This can cause massive problems in breeding kennels and becomes easily spread when owners and breeders refuse to do routine Brucellosis kennel testings. With newly developing cases in the United States affecting the dog trade and breeding numbers, regulatory or molecular tools to better control the spread of Canine Brucellosis are being needed.
FACTS ABOUT CANINE BRUCELLOSIS
The disease Canine Brucellosis is caused by the bacteria B. canis, or Brucella canis. Dogs can be affected by cattle Brucellosis (Brucella abortus) or even pig Brucellosis (Brucella suis), but Brucellosis canis is the most common Brucella bacteria that affects dogs, causing sterility in both sexes.
Canine Brucellosis is the cause of reproductive failure in breeding dogs, presently spreading in dog breeding kennels across the United States with four kennels in Nebraska recently testing for it. B.canus will not kill an affected dog but the diseased animal is considered “genetically dead” as it is unbreedable from that point on.
Many states require a dog with Canine Brucellosis to be euthanized to safeguard the disease from transferring to humans, while other states accept the diseased dog being spayed or neutered to eliminate the breeding problem. One affected dog can easily wipe out the entire kennel if the disease is not brought immediately under control. Thousands and thousands of dollars are lost for several testings to monitor the disease, euthanization of affected dogs, and the loss of breeding stock.
SYMPTOMS OF BRUCELLOSIS
The first signs of brucellosis in female dogs are self-aborting litters between the 45th to 59th day or failure to conceive in dogs that may otherwise appear perfectly healthy to an untrained eye. The pups from affected female dogs will be born dead or weak enough to die soon afterwards. The death of unborn puppies occurs at the embryo stage, becoming reabsorbed within the female’s body–making it appear as if she never bred.
Meanwhile, male dogs become infertile along with abnormal semen quality and a decrease in testicle size. An inflammation of the testicles, prostrate and/or epididymis may occur which leads to testicular atrophy. A serious reluctance to breed will occur due to pain of the male sexual organs caused by inflammation. Sores or lesions may even occur to the sexual organs due to the male dog continuously licking at the inflamed and painful sights.
Other symptoms of both sexes will include a decrease in the dog’s activity levels, low vigor, signs of lethargy, loss of libido or sexual interest, premature aging, and enlargement of the lymph nodes. Some rare cases also show Canis Brucellosis damaging the breeding dogs’ kidneys and nervous system.
HOW CANINE BRUCELLOSIS SPREADS
The bacteria B. canis will spread through contact with semen and vaginal discharge of breeding dogs through the mating process, dogs who are affected with Canine Brucellosis. Other contacts include mammary secretions, fluids from aborted puppies, urine, or body secretions. Another serious spreading route is inside the indoor-kennel atmospheres, where it can be spread through the airborne route.
If a human catches Canine Brucellosis, it usually will typically develop from the handling of fluids from the stillborn or aborted puppies, membranes, and placentas from the untested mother. Wearing gloves and disinfecting the area should be mandatory whether Canine Brucellosis is present in the kennel or not in order to prevent the transmission to humans, which develop with flu-like symptoms. Any dog who aborts or refuses to breed should be routinely tested for the disease immediately.
GLOBAL TESTING FOR CANIS BRUCELLOSIS
A study was published in the “International Journal of Infectious Diseases” which tracked “Canis Brucellosis” in dogs throughout Wisconsin kennels which was affecting its trade in the dog business, followed by the ability to identify a molecular technique which isolated the strain differentiations of Canine Brucellosis.
The method used was the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WVDL) brucellosis canis serology data from the years 1995 to 2005, along with the three different Canine Brucellosis outbreaks in Wisconsin dog kennels, eight isolated Canine Brucellosis cases from Wisconsin, Missouri and Arkansas, and four isolated cases from outside sources. The conclusion for the study showed that the CFAP methlyester analysis could be used as a tool for epidemiological tracing of Canine Brucellosis in outbreaks and in comparison studies to observe globally expanding cases.
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Beth
- 3rd Jul, 09 07:07pm
Do you know what styates are affected by this? I’ve never heard of it. What happens to people if they get it?
A M
- 17th Jul, 10 04:07am
This disease can be found in ALL states potentially. My dog just tested positive for the first antibody test and her blood had to be sent to Cornell University for testing to confirm positive results. The only reason I know that my dog potentially has this bacteria is because I was going to breed her and had her tested. I may have to euthanize my dog and it is devistating. There should be equal legislation in all states that prevents people from selling dogs that have not been tested. It should be simple you would think, father and mother tests, the cost certainly doesn’t compare to the profit the sellers will make and if they can not afford it, then they should not breed. In the case of people who cannot afford to test there could be a funded program. I’m working on this, seriously, this is a major, undiagnosed, unreported and unregulated issue, not to mention the disease in contractable to humans!
Nancy Houser (author comment)
- 17th Jul, 10 09:07am
Yes, I do agree. ALL dogs, in particular dogs sold as breeding stock, should be tested for Canine Brucellosis before being sold. If there is any way we can help you, please contact us. Nobody should have to put down dogs due to someone else’s greed, neglect and sheer stupidity.