Brucellosis Information


What is Brucellosis?

Canine Brucellosis is a bacterial infection caused by Brucella canis, which primarily affects dogs. It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be transmitted from animals to humans, although human cases are rare. The infection is often chronic and can have serious consequences for both dogs and people.


Canine Brucellosis is not endemic to the UK and is seen in imported dogs and their contacts. It is important to screen these dogs, especially those imported since 2022 to prevent the spread of Brucellosis in the UK.


Transmission

The bacteria are primarily spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids: urine, vaginal discharge, semen, and aborted tissues. Female dogs can also transmit the bacteria to their puppies during birth. Humans can contract brucellosis through exposure to these bodily fluids or handling infected materials.


Symptoms

Many dogs are asymptomatic but signs include:

  • Reproductive issues, such as infertility or miscarriages
  • Abnormal testicular swelling in male dogs
  • Lethargy and weight loss
  • Joint pain or limping
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Eye inflammation or retinal damage


Diagnosis

A single serological (blood) test does not definitively confirm infection status. For most cases B canis testing should be by SAT and iELISA, 3 months after potential infection.

This means that dogs need to be tested three months after they have been imported into the UK.

Your dog may have already had a blood test performed by their charity, which is an excellent start, but it may not be enough to be sure they are Brucellosis negative.

If a dog tests positive with no symptoms or history of direct exposure, this alone should not be used to decide on a course of action. Ideally, they should be isolated and retested in 4-6 weeks. This means no direct or indirect contact with other dogs and ensuring excreta (urine and faeces) is not accessed. Similarly, there should be no contact with other people, especially the old, young, pregnant or immunocompromised.


Cost

We try to keep Brucellosis testing as affordable as possible by offering this testing at cost price- £40 total for both iELISA and SAT testing.

Treatment While canine Brucellosis can be treated with antibiotics, the disease is notoriously difficult to cure. The British Veterinary Association guidelines advise against treating the disease due to the high chance of failure and risk to human health. Instead, euthanasia is recommended.


Our Policy

We will only perform elective procedures (such as neutering and blood tests) if your dog was EITHER imported into the UK prior to 2022 OR has a valid brucellosis blood test.

Please speak to us about Brucellosis testing if your dog is imported, as if you do not have a valid Brucellosis test this may impact on our ability to treat your animal.

We will continue to provide emergency and first aid treatment to all our patients, whatever their Brucella status.