Brucellosis

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#1
Hey everyone,
Well, my last time here was when Karma was going in for hip/elbow evaluations and I'm happy to report that she has no signs of displaysia at all. Now that she has had all of her breed specific genetic tests and has passed each and every one with flying colors the decision to breed is where we are standing.
She came into heat a few days ago so clearly it's time to run back and forth to the vets for every other test imaginable, cycles of progesterone tests in the event natural breeding doesn't occur and AI is needed, as well as Brucellosis.

I will be honest, I was unaware of Brucellosis ( which is another great reason people should be working with a mentor when breeding) however, Karmas results came back negative, I got curious about it. Seeing as though thats the kind of person I am, if I don't know about something I make it a point to learn as much about it as possible. Therefore this is why I am here making this thread.
I have done a great deal of reading on Brucellosis but even when I did a search here about it, it really turned up with nothing more than the mention that it is a necessary test to be done. I would like to get some good information or links together for future reference on it.

Also, after I started reading on Brucellosis, i am curious if there is any risk of it to altered dogs, I realize it is mostly contracted by mating but I have read some info that it can be transmitted by licking. So, considering I have taken in rescues over the years and fostered I got to thinking for those of us who do this, shouldn't rescues also be tested? Most information I have read on it the only concern is to breeding dogs, and the possibility of euthanasia if one is found to have it. This concerns me, I can not find any information about it other than it discussing breeding dogs becoming sterile.

I called my vet and they are putting together a print up for me about it ( they have gotten to know my research nature over the years and don't even question why I want to know about things in the depth I do when I call them now, but it takes them a few days to get this sort of stuff together for me understandably) I have actually called a few vets, one of which a livestock/small animal vet in the area to whom I actually was asked "what is it that the brucellosis test tests for again?" :yikes: I didn't expect too much information from them about it.

So any help would be appreciated. Google searches have brought up a great deal of conflicting information and opinions about it I find.

TIA
 

colliewog

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#4
It's not that common, but can cause sterility, abortion, etc. if they were to become infected.

Here's some info:

Although dogs occasionally become infected with Brucella abortus , B suis , or B melitensis , these sporadic occurrences are usually closely associated with infected domestic livestock (see also Brucellosis in Large Animals: Introduction).
B canis is a cause of abortion in kenneled dogs. Dogs are the definitive host of this organism, and natural infections in other animals are rare. Infection has caused a reduction of 75% in the number of pups weaned in some breeding kennels. The disease disseminates rapidly among closely confined dogs, especially at time of breeding or when abortions occur. Transmission occurs via ingestion of contaminated materials or venereal routes. Both sexes appear to be equally susceptible. Transmission of brucellosis from dogs to humans occurs but appears to be very rare.
Primary signs are abortion during the last trimester of pregnancy without premonitory signs, stillbirths, and conception failures. Prolonged vaginal discharge usually follows abortion. Abortions may occur during subsequent pregnancies. Infected dogs may develop generalized lymphadenitis and frequently epididymitis, periorchitis, and prostatitis. Spondylitis and uveitis are occasional complications. Bacteremia is frequent and persists for ~18 mo after exposure. Fever is not characteristic.
Diagnosis is based on isolation and identification of the causative agent or by serology. The organisms can usually be readily isolated from vaginal exudate, aborted pups, blood, milk, or semen of infected dogs. The most widely used serologic test is an agglutination test by a tube or slide method. Nonspecific agglutination reactions occur in some dogs from which Brucella has not been isolated. To eliminate nonspecific antibodies, the serum is treated with 2-mercaptoethanol and retested. An agar gel immunodiffusion test performed in some laboratories is quite specific.
Attempts at immunization have not been successful. Control is based on elimination or isolation of infected dogs identified by positive cultural or serologic tests. Incidence of infection is much lower in kennels where dogs are caged individually. Longterm therapy, eg, with a combination of streptomycin or gentamicin and tetracycline, has been successful in many cases. Neutering of infected dogs is sometimes an alternative to euthanasia.
Merck Veterinary Manual

And quotes from the Merck manual with links to the full article:

[paraphrased] Brucellosis can cause orchitis and epididymitis in a stud, causing sterility in most cases. Merck Veterinary Manual

[direct quote]" ... The only confirmed infectious cause of infertility in the bitch is brucellosis ..." Merck Veterinary Manual
 

Pops2

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#5
the funny thing is you see brucellosis neg or the requirement for it all over the adds (especially stud adds) in the hunting dog mags like full cry, coonhound bloodlines, & hunter's horn among others.
 

colliewog

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#6
the funny thing is you see brucellosis neg or the requirement for it all over the adds (especially stud adds) in the hunting dog mags like full cry, coonhound bloodlines, & hunter's horn among others.
It's been around sooo long that old timers and newcomers alike will test for it just on the odd chance of it springing up and ruining everything!!
 

Pops2

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#7
but i never see it mentioned on the show dog breeder sites or in dog world (well maybe not never but rare enough i can't remember seeing it).
 

MafiaPrincess

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#8
I see it mentioned if people openly stud out to approved bitches on their websites... That their own males are tested often and negative.. and there needs to be a recent test for the bitch in the approval process.
 

Boemy

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#9
the funny thing is you see brucellosis neg or the requirement for it all over the adds (especially stud adds) in the hunting dog mags like full cry, coonhound bloodlines, & hunter's horn among others.
It can be contracted by an animal eating the afterbirth of another infected animal, right? Maybe the dogs of hunting/hound breeders are more likely to be around affected livestock. IIRC cattle, pigs, elk, and buffalo can all get it. (Okay, elk and buffalo aren't usually livestock, but you know what I mean.)
 

Pops2

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#10
true but most houndsmen don't allow dogs to just run free around the farm and usually don't hunt in pastures or hog barns.
 

Romy

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#11
I know of a borzoi breeder who tests regularly. Once she got a false positive from her stud male and freaked out. Had it retested three times in a row and they all came back fine, so it was a lab mistake. She was telling me that it can kill dogs.
 

showluver

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#12
It can cause sterility, abortion and is not really characterized by symptoms in males so they can pass it all over and no one is aware they are positive without the test. Females can have symptoms if they are pregnant and aborting litters early on or suddenly unable to conceive.
It is not curable and while altering will help some of the issue, once you are known to be positive, the state gets involved. They will more often that not require you to euthanize all positive tested animals. Once one is positive, the whole house must be tested and in some cases the humans too. If anyone comes in contact with infected blood, bodily fluids, such as from birthing then humans can also contract it.

Licking, attempted breeding (which neutered males can still do) will cause a dog to get it.

Not seen often, but very awful if it does happen. I do know of someone who was doing rescue and taking in boarders....those dogs and all her own tested positive in the end all stemming from keeping someones dogs for them...sad situation and one i would never want to face.
 

Romy

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#13
once you are known to be positive, the state gets involved. They will more often that not require you to euthanize all positive tested animals.
Maybe this is what the breeder was worried about. I remember her saying that she thought she was going to lose all her dogs.
 

showluver

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#14
Good possibility. I have personally never had it nor been directly involved with anyone who has until recently. This person lived in Michigan and the state was really making it a hard way to go for them.
 

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