Canine brucellosis in a household

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Infectious Diseases
• Bacteriology

Background:

• Canine brucellosis, caused by Brucella canis, is a significant zoonotic disease with potential public health implications.
• Serosurveys are crucial for identifying and controlling infectious diseases in animal populations.
• Early detection and accurate diagnosis are essential for managing Brucella canis outbreaks.

Observation:

• A serosurvey in a private dog household identified three cases of canine brucellosis.
• One dog was seropositive and culture-positive, another was seropositive, and a third had suspect results with suggestive eye lesions.
• Clinical signs consistent with Brucella canis infection were observed in all affected dogs, though not pathognomonic.

Findings:

• Pathologic findings in two dogs were consistent with previous reports but not conclusive for brucellosis.
• The 2-mercaptoethanol tube agglutination test was employed for diagnostic purposes in this study.
• The co-occurrence of positive serology, positive culture, and suggestive clinical signs confirmed Brucella canis infection in the household.

Implications:

• This case series underscores the importance of considering Brucella canis in differential diagnoses for dogs presenting with relevant clinical signs.
• Effective diagnostic strategies and prompt intervention are vital to prevent the spread of canine brucellosis within households and to the wider dog population.
• Further research into sensitive and specific diagnostic tools for Brucella canis is warranted to improve disease control efforts.