Outbreak of a Brucella canis infection in a beagle colony in West Germany

Brucella infections in dogs were caused by the more frequent strains of brucellae i.e. Br. abortus, Br. suis, and Br. melitensis. Since 1966 it is known that in dog colonies, mostly beagle, in the United States, a new brucella species caused infections. This species was called Br. canis. The infection showed similar effects with dogs as the other brucellae with other domestic animals. With the dogs abortions occurred on the 40th to 50th day of gestation and the infection often resulted in sterility. In 1973 the author detected Br. canis for the first time in Europe; shortly afterwards the same bacteria was isolated in Japan. It is known how the disease spread to Japan, but how it came to Europe is still a mystery. Here it was first detected in a beagle colony with approximately 200 animals used for breeding. Within a few months the disease spread in the colony and finally the birthrate of inseminated bitches was only 29%; 50% had abortions and the rest had not conceived. In this communication characteristics of Br. canis are discussed.