What does Brucella do to dogs?

Symptoms:

1. Reproductive Issues:
• Infertility: Canine brucellosis is often associated with reproductive problems, including difficulty conceiving and increased rates of abortion in pregnant females.
• Abortion and Stillbirths: Infected pregnant dogs may experience spontaneous abortions or give birth to stillborn puppies.
2. Clinical Signs:
• Swollen Testicles (Orchitis): In male dogs, Brucella infection may lead to inflammation and enlargement of the testicles.
• Eye Inflammation (Uveitis): Inflammation of the eye, particularly the uvea, can occur in some cases.
• Lethargy and Fever: Infected dogs may exhibit general signs of illness such as lethargy and fever.
• Joint Pain (Arthritis): Joint pain and lameness can be observed in some cases.
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Transmission:

1. Sexual Contact:
• Canine Brucella is commonly transmitted through the reproductive fluids during mating, making sexual contact a significant mode of transmission.
2. Direct Contact:
• Direct contact with infected tissues, fluids, or materials such as placenta and aborted fetuses can lead to transmission.
3. Vertical Transmission:
• Mother-to-puppy transmission can occur, with infected females passing the bacteria to their offspring during birth or through nursing.

Diagnosis:

1. Serological Tests:
• Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) and Rapid Slide Agglutination Test (RSAT) are commonly used for serological diagnosis.
2. Bacterial Culture:
• Culturing Brucella organisms from clinical samples, such as blood or reproductive tract secretions.
3. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR):
• Molecular techniques like PCR can be employed for the sensitive detection of Brucella DNA.

Treatment:

1. Antibiotic Therapy:
• Antibiotics like doxycycline and streptomycin may be considered, but complete eradication is often challenging.
2. Isolation:
• Infected dogs should be isolated to prevent the spread of the bacterium.

Prevention:

1. Hygiene Measures:
• Strict hygiene practices in breeding facilities, including proper sanitation and isolation of infected animals.
2. Testing and Culling:
• Regular testing of breeding dogs, with culling of infected animals to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Canine Brucella is a significant concern in the dog breeding community due to its impact on reproductive health and potential zoonotic transmission. Timely diagnosis, management, and adherence to preventive measures are crucial for controlling the spread of Canine Brucella. Veterinarians play a key role in the monitoring and control of this infectious disease in dogs.