Brucella canis Infection in Dogs

Introduction
• First isolated in 1966 by Leland Carmichael
• Reservoir host  Dogs
• Major cause of reproductive failure & economic loss in kennels
• Prevalent in southeastern US
• Hard to diagnose & treat
• Zoonotic threat (especially to humans)

Etiology
• Gram (-) aerobic intracellular coccobacillus
• Grows on common media: rugose colonies; urease, nitrate & oxidase (+)
• Affects all ages & breeds of dogs

Transmission
• Contact with mucus membranes (genital, oronasal, conjuctiva)
o Venereal (natural mating)
o Vaginal secretions (prepartum, lochia; MOST COMMON)
o Aborted fetus, placenta, fluids
o Semen (peak infectivity first 2 mths post infection, shed intermittently for years)
o Urine (males more infective; seen 4-8 weeks after infection)
o Milk (unknown importance; may cause environmental contamination)
o Less important sources (saliva, oculonasal secretions, feces)
• In utero (causing systemic bacteremia in unborn pups)

Pathogenesis
• B. canis enters through the mucosa & are then phagocytized by macrophages
• Once intracellular, taken to lymphatic organs (lymph nodes, spleen) where they begin to
replicate & increase in virulence starting a bacteremia in 7-30 days
• Bacteremia persists for at least 6 months & then intermittently for 5.5 yrs
• Target organs possibly affected due to bacteremia
o Reproductive organs (MOST COMMON)
 Male – prostate, epididymis, testicle
 Female – gravid uterus, placenta, fetus
o Lymph nodes (diffuse lymphoid & reticular hyperplasia)
o Eyes (immune-complexes)
o Vertebrae
o Liver / Spleen (granulomatous reaction)
o Skin (granulomatous reaction)

Clinical Findings
• Typically NO fever! (lacks LPS of other Brucella spp that produce endotoxins)
• Aymptomatic (carriers)
• Lymphadenopathy (esp. retropharyngeal & inguinal; can be generalized)
• Reproductive failure
• Splenomegaly
 • Hepatomegaly

• Females
o Late abortion (30-57 days of gestation)
 Followed by brown/green discharge for prolonged period
 Aborted puppies
o Fetal resorption or Early Embryonic Death may also occur (infertility)
o No changes in estrus cycle or breeding habits
• Males
o Epididymitis (acute – dilate (pain), chronic – shrinks (20 testicular atrophy))
o Prostatits
o Scrotal dermatitis /ulceration (from frequent licking 20 to pain)
o Decreased libido
o Decreased / Abnormal sperm production (seen by 2 months) ± Sterility
 Autoimmune production of antisperm antibodies  Agglutination
 By 5 months, majority of sperm are “head to head” spermagglutination
• Other Systemic Effects of Bacteremia
o Discospondylitis (thoracic/cervical)
 Acute pain, lameness
o Low-grade, Nonsuppurative Meningitis
 Paresis, ataxia
o Endophthalmitis / Uveitis (immune complex deposition)
o Pyogranulomatous dermatitis

Diagnosis
• Many serological tests available but have high variability in sensitivities & specificities
• Only way to definitively diagnose  Isolation of B. canis via culture
• Serological tests
o Can detect Ab’s against B. canis 2 weeks post infection
 • Bacterial cultures
o Best for early infection that have not received antibiotics
o Negative foes not confirm the absence of infection
o Samples: vaginal secretions, aborted fetus/placenta, urine, etc.
Treatment
• No treatment regiment is 100% effective  Intracellular bacteria
• Some are dogs are cured, others relapse or remain chronic carriers
• More than one antibiotic must be used to have any chance at resolution
• Recommended regiments

5. Enrofloxacin (5 mg/kg) PO q12 for 30 days (Wanke, Delpino, Balidi, 2006)

Zoonotic Potential
• Becoming more & more prevalent in Southeast US
• Tend to be in people that work in kennels & those live in endemic regions as it is
contracted similarly to dogs
• Few reported cases, most likely because has not been extensively recognized by human
practitioners and is thus not tested for routinely
• Clinical findings in people are non-specific
o Fever of unknown origin
o Weakness & Lethargy
o Splenomegaly & Hepatomegaly
o ± Diarrhea, Vomiting, etc