Routes of infection of dog brucellosis

Canine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella bacteria. Brucella has strong resistance and can survive in soil, water, and milk for a long time. This bacteria can easily cause miscarriage in dogs. The occurrence of brucellosis in dogs is usually related to contact with sick cattle, sick sheep, and sick dogs.
The infection of dog brucellosis is closely related to mating, eating contaminated food, or contact with aborted fetuses, placenta and vaginal secretions, so it mostly occurs in shepherd dogs.
1. Brucella mainly exists in the reproductive organs of pregnant female animals, and is excreted with the fetus, fetal fluid, vaginal secretions and milk after delivery or abortion. There are also a large number of pathogenic bacteria in the semen of sick male animals. , often transmitted through breeding. Therefore, sick animals are the source of infection of this disease.
2. Brucella is highly contagious. It can invade the body not only through damaged skin and mucous membranes, but also through normal skin and mucous membranes. There are also many routes of infection. In addition to skin and mucous membrane infections, it can also be infected through the digestive tract, reproductive tract, and respiratory tract, so it brings greater difficulties to epidemic prevention. In addition to dogs, cattle, sheep, pigs and people can be infected. In particular, brucellosis in cattle and sheep is often the main source of infection in dogs and other animals.
3. Brucella has strong resistance and can survive in soil, water and milk for a long time. However, it cannot be exposed to high temperatures. Heating it at 100 degrees Celsius for a few minutes can kill it. The resistance to disinfectants is also weak. 3% Lysol, 2% formalin, 5% lime emulsion, etc. can kill the bacteria within a few minutes.

Clinical features of canine brucellosis

1. Pregnant female dogs usually have miscarriage without any warning symptoms in the late pregnancy. Miscarriage and systemic lymphadenopathy can also occur in the early pregnancy. Female dogs discharge secretions from the vagina for a long time after miscarriage.
2. Most of the aborted fetuses are stillborn, but some are still alive, but they often die within hours or days. Pneumonia, endocarditis and hepatitis can be seen in infected fetuses.
3. Epididymitis, orchiitis, testicular atrophy, prostatitis and scrotal dermatitis are common in male dogs. Dogs suffering from epididymitis often become restless and lick the scrotal skin, resulting in severe ulcers.
4. Most sick dogs lack obvious clinical symptoms, especially young dogs and non-pregnant dogs. Therefore, it is difficult to diagnose based solely on clinical symptoms and must rely on isolation of pathogenic bacteria and serological testing. Aborted fetuses, blood, urine, vaginal secretions, semen and breast milk can be submitted for examination.

Preventive measures for dog brucellosis

There is currently no effective treatment for this disease, and the method of eliminating sick dogs is generally used to prevent the epidemic and spread. Since canine brucellosis is not highly invasive to humans, preventing this disease is not a public health priority. For prevention and treatment, please refer to the following measures:
1. Strengthen quarantine and collect blood twice a year for serum agglutination test.
2. ConvectionFor dogs that give birth, samples of the aborted fetus or serum should be sent for examination, and bacterial isolation and culture or serum agglutination test should be carried out to find out the cause.
3. Sick dogs should be isolated from other dogs to prevent infection.
4. The environment contaminated by sick dogs can be disinfected with 2% to 5% bleach solution, 10% lime milk or hot alkaline water. Aborted fetuses, placenta, and amniotic fluid should be properly disposed of.