Bovine brucellosis

The bovine is a venereal disease of cattle , by the bacterium Brucella abortus from the genus Brucella is caused. The beef is the main host , while almost all mammals , including the human and poultry , the secondary hosts form. All biovars are disease pathogens in cattle , in Europe 1–4 dominate. In West Germany, bovine brucellosis was eradicated in 1971, in the GDR in 1981. Since then, there have only been isolated outbreaks of disease caused by imports.

June 2018 cases occurred on a farm in Rohrbach , Upper Austria.

Etiology and pathogenesis

The infection usually occurs via mating or orally . Infections through the skin are also suspected. Many Brucella are found in infected afterbirths and abortions in particular . They are also excreted through milk , urine , feces and nasal secretions .

The bacteremic phase of brucellosis is clinically normal apart from a slight increase in temperature, which often goes unnoticed. In the second half of pregnancy come Verkalbungen before, often with a placenta associated. Furthermore, tendinitis , bursitis and joint inflammation occur. Inflammation of the udder often goes unnoticed, but results in pathogen excretion. Infected bulls develop testicular infections and epididymitis . After the abortion of a cow, both further admission and sterility are possible. In one herd, bovine brucellosis is epidemic.

The pathogens can be detected in blood , milk and semen using serology . They can also be grown from fruits , egg skins, and milk and sperm. Intracutaneous brucellin tests are very rarely used.

Identification of a brucellosis-free cattle herd

Brucellosis is a notifiable animal disease and a very dangerous zoonosis . The implementation of serological tests is regulated in EU law . In Germany, control is regulated in the Brucellosis Ordinance. Treatments and vaccinations are prohibited.

Michael Rolle, Anton Mayr (Ed.): Medical Microbiology. Infection and disease theory. 8th revised edition. Enke Verlag, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-8304-1060-7 .