Infected male dogs may have abnormally sized testicles (swollen or shrunken). Other signs observed with canine brucellosis include infertility, anorexia, weight loss, pain, lameness, incoordination, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle weakness.
The bacteria that cause brucellosis can infect the epididymis, the coiled tube that connects the vas deferens and the testicle. From there, the infection may spread to the testicle itself, causing swelling and pain, which may be severe.
Humane euthanasia of infected dogs is often recommended to prevent the spread of this disease.
In female dogs, the most common symptoms are aborted pregnancies, stillbirth, and inability to become pregnant. In males, the primary symptom is the inability to sire puppies. Both sexes may have swollen lymph glands, eye disease, and infections of the spine.
Signs of illness can occur within one week to several months after exposure. On average, signs and symptoms will begin within three to four weeks following infection.
People with brucellosis may develop fever, sweats, headaches, back pains, and physical weakness. In severe cases, the central nervous system and the lining of the heart may be affected. One form of the illness may also cause long-lasting symptoms, including recurrent fevers, joint pain, and fatigue.
In dogs, brucellosis is usually spread through contact with infected birthing tissues and fluids (e.g., placenta, aborted fetuses, fetal fluids, vaginal discharges). Canine brucellosis can also be transmitted by contaminated objects (fomites) such as, bedding, equipment, clothing, or shoes, .
Brucellosis is considered a lifelong infection in dogs. Treatment of infected animals consists of surgical sterilization (spaying/neutering) and long-term antibiotic therapy. Treatment usually consists of a combination of antibiotics, given for at least 4-12 weeks, but treatment is often unsuccessful.
No. Repeated attempts to develop a cure for brucellosis in animals have failed. Occasionally, animals may recover after a period of time. More commonly, however, only the signs disappear and the animals remain diseased.
Depending on the timing of treatment and severity of illness, recovery may take a few weeks to several months. Death from brucellosis is rare, occurring in no more than 2% of all cases. Generally, the antibiotics doxycycline and rifampin are recommended in combination for a minimum of 6-8 weeks.
Canine brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium, Brucella canis (B. canis). This bacterial infection is highly contagious between dogs. Infected dogs usually develop an infection of the reproductive system, or a sexually transmitted disease.
Better handling of infected animals or animal products is paramount. Public awareness and education play major roles in prevention. Consumption of unpasteurized milk and milk products, as well as of raw or undercooked meats, should be avoided.
Severe brucellosis may cause: Infection of the central nervous system. Endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart or valves) Liver abscess.
Clinical Presentation
Focal infections are common and can affect most organs in the body. Osteoarticular involvement is the most common brucellosis complication, as is reproductive system involvement. Although rare, endocarditis can occur and is the principal cause of death among patients with brucellosis.
The organism is shed in the milk, fetal membranes, and uterine discharges. Thus brucellosis can be both an occupational (veterinarians, farmers) or a foodborne disease. Lethality: Brucellosis has a very low mortality rate, less than 5% of untreated cases, with most deaths caused by endocarditis or meningitis.
Brucellosis in domestic animals is a chronic disease that is characterized mainly by reproductive signs in cattle, buffaloes, pigs, sheep, goats and dogs. In females the disease is characterized by abortion, placenta retention, vaginal secretions, low fertility rate and also embryonic and neonatal death.
How serious is brucellosis? Considering the damage done by the infection in animals-decreased milk production, weight loss in animals, loss of young, infertility, and lameness, it is one of the most serious diseases of livestock.
Treatment and care
The incubation period of the disease can be highly variable, ranging from 1 week to 2 months, but usually 2–4 weeks. Treatment options include doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 45 days, plus streptomycin 1 g daily for 15 days.
no cure for brucellosis in dogs. Even after months of antibiotic treatment, dogs can still remain infected and spread the disease to other dogs and people. all dogs in your kennel for brucellosis. Infected dogs should be removed from your kennel.
Disinfectants with bleach, at least 70 percent ethanol, iodine/alcohol solutions, glutaraldehyde or formaldehyde will effectively kill the bacteria.
Many reports have indicated that Brucella species are readily killed by most of the commonly available disinfectants including hypochlorite solutions, 70% ethanol, isopropanol, iodophores, phenolic disinfectants, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and xylene [5,10].
Dogs and people can become infected with brucellosis. Dogs that have not been spayed or neutered (intact) are at higher risk of having brucellosis. This includes dogs in breeding programs and intact stray or owned free-roaming dogs.
Person-to-person spread of brucellosis is extremely rare. Infected mothers who are breast-feeding may transmit the infection to their infants. Sexual transmission has been rarely reported. While uncommon, transmission may also occur via tissue transplantation or blood transfusions.
Involvement of the musculoskeletal system is the most common complication of brucellosis, while meningitis and endocarditis are life-threatening complications.
Brucellosis is caused by Brucella species, which are gram-negative bacteria. Symptoms begin as an acute febrile illness with few or no localized signs and may progress to a chronic stage with relapses of fever, weakness, sweats, and vague aches and pains. Diagnosis is by culture, usually from the blood.