Dog brucellosis

The Hundebrucellose is an infectious disease in dogs , by the bacterium Brucella canis from the genus Brucella is caused. B. canis is distributed worldwide, in Europe especially in England, southern France, Romania and Hungary. The disease is mostly a cover infection with disease of the genital organs. In males there are testicular and epididymis infections , in bitches miscarriages , uterine infections and infertility. Canine brucellosis does not respond very well to antibiotics , but only in exceptional cases leads to the death of the animal. Control is therefore preferably carried out through epidemiological measures such as testing imported animals and isolating infected animals. Canine brucellosis can also be transmitted to humans, but the disease in humans is usually mild and responds well to antibiotics.

Occurrence

Canine brucellosis was first detected in the United States in 1966. The pathogen occurs worldwide, in Europe it is mainly found in England, southern France, Romania and Hungary.

Etiology and pathogenesis

Brucella canis is a gram-negative coconut bacterium. The pathogen is not very resistant in the environment and is killed by all common disinfectants. The dog is alsosusceptibleto B. abortus (pathogen causing bovine brucellosis ) and B. melitensis (pathogen causing sheep and goat brucellosis ).

Brucella canis is excreted by infected animals with semen , milk , urine , feces and vaginal secretions . The transmission occurs mainly during mating, rarely perorally through the ingestion of urine, placentas and aborted puppies. Usually latently infected animals are the source of infection. The pathogen excretion is highest in males in the first eight weeks after infection, after which it decreases, but can last for up to two years. Bitches shed the pathogen in large numbers for at least three months. The pathogen penetrates the mucous membrane and is absorbed by macrophages , which transport it to the lymphatic and sexual organs. Two to four weeks after infection, the pathogen spreads in the blood ( bacteremia ), which can last six months to five and a half years. The antibody formation begins four to twelve weeks after infection.

clinic

Bacteremia develops after two to four weeks. This can last longer than a year and is not necessarily associated with a fever . In bitches, abortions occur in the last third of pregnancy and the birth of weak puppies. You can abort up to three times in a row. Metritis often develops after the abortion , which can lead to infertility. Male dogs suffer from testicular and epididymal inflammation up to infertility as well as weeping inflammation of the scrotum skin. Sometimes fatigue and lack of libido are the only symptoms in stud dogs.

Occasionally, organ systems other than the genital organs can also be affected. It can Lymphdrüsenentzündungen , Diskospondylitis , osteomyelitis and uveitis come.

Many infections go unnoticed. The prognosis for the survival of the animal is favorable.

diagnosis

For the serological detection by serum slow agglutination (SLA), indirect immunofluorescence test , immunodiffusion test and complement fixation reaction , specific antigens or antibodies must be present, which is the case after three weeks at the earliest. The SLA can also provide false-positive results, so it should always be backed up by a blood culture.

The culture enrichment from blood , urine , vaginal swabs or fetuses or membranes requires special conditions. The blood culture is always possible one to five months after infection, after one year only 50 to 80% of the samples are positive. Brucella can usually be cultured from urine two to five months after infection, and from sperm for up to twelve months.

therapy

Therapy attempts are mostly unsuccessful, although the following antibiotics are effective in vitro : tetracycline , gentamicin , enrofloxacin , penicillin , streptomycin and chloramphenicol . Therefore, the most effective prophylaxis through veterinary hygiene measures, with isolation or even killing infected animals. Serological testing should be carried out, especially for imports from countries where dog brucellosis is common.

Danger to humans

Although canine brucellosis is also a zoonosis , the infection in humans is extremely mild (subclinical). Intermittent fever with swelling of the lymph nodes may occur. In contrast to dogs, the disease in humans responds very well to antibiotics. As a prophylactic measure, gloves should be worn in the event of contact with potentially infectious material.

literature

• Michael Rolle, Anton Mayr : Medical microbiology, infection and disease theory. 8th, revised edition. Enke, Stuttgart 2007, ISBN 978-3-8304-1060-7 .
• Mima Hohmann: Canine Brucellosis. A globalization problem? In: Deutsches Tierärzteblatt . Vol. 60, No. 8, 2012, pp. 1066-1070, ( online ).

1. ^ Richard Morisset, Wesley W. Spink: Epidemic canine brucellosis due to a new species, brucella canis. In: The Lancet . Vol. 2, No. 7628, 1969, pp. 1000-1002, doi : 10.1016 / S0140-6736 (69) 90551-0 .

This article is about a health issue. It is not used for self-diagnosis and does not replace a diagnosis by a doctor. Please note the information on health issues !