What is Brucella Canis?
Brucella is an infectious disease of dogs caused by the bacteria Brucella Canis. Until recently, the UK has been free of Brucella Canis. Increasing numbers of cases are now being seen, primarily linked to imported dogs or dogs having had close contact with imported dogs. Brucella Canis is now listed as a reportable disease under the amended Zoonoses Order 2021.
What countries are considered high risk for Brucellosis in imported dogs?
LOW RISK:
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Guernsey, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sicily, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland.
HIGH RISK:
Any country not listed under ‘low-risk’ including Afghanistan, Belarus, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine.
Regions: East Asia, Africa, Mexico, and South America.
What are the clinical signs of Brucella Canis in dogs?
Clinical signs range from reproductive signs (abortion / infertility) to discospondylitis (neck/ back pain), uveitis (inflammation within the eye), lameness, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), scrotal swelling, vulval discharge, weakness, and lethargy. Some dogs may exhibit no clinical signs at all. These dogs can still be infectious and transmit the disease. They may also develop clinical signs later in life.
Why are we concerned about Brucella Canis?
It is a zoonotic disease, meaning it can be passed from dogs to humans. Whilst reported cases of transmission to people are rare, HAIRS (Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance Group) have identified certain individuals with having a greater risk of exposure to infectious material. Veterinary and laboratory staff, owners of infected dogs, kennel staff and dog breeders are all identified on this list.
Both the government and Health and Safety Executive are advising that we need to act.
How is Brucella Canis transmitted to humans?
Brucella Canis can be transmitted via aerosols or if infectious materials contact mucous membranes (eyes/mouth) or areas of broken/damaged skin. The greatest risk is thought to be from exposure to fluids and tissues associated with whelping and abortion. There is also a risk from urine, joint fluid, blood, milk, and tissues and to a lesser extent, faeces, saliva, and nasal secretions.
The elderly, young children and immunocompromised individuals may experience more severe symptoms if they become infected.
What are the clinical signs of Brucella Canis in people?
Infected humans can be asymptomatic, have non-specific symptoms such as lethargy, headaches and weight loss or present with severe illness and complications.
What happens if my dog is imported from (or has travelled to?) a high-risk area?
1. New pet registration:
Any new pet registered at the practice will be recommended to have a Brucella test 3 months after import.
2. Pre-existing patients in a risk category:
- Clinically well and requiring elective procedure: the procedure will be delayed until the Brucella status has been identified with a blood test.
- Clinically unwell: A 30-min appointment will be booked with a vet for review (same cost as a standard appointment). The risk will be assessed and the APHA tests be recommended if appropriate (at cost and without blood sampling fee).
- Clinically unwell and needing to be admitted: A lateral flow test will be performed (charged at cost: £21.00 inc. V.A.T.). PPE will be worn when handling the patient and if they need to be hospitalised, this will be within our isolation ward. We may be unable to perform certain procedures until the brucellosis status is confirmed. Once treatment is complete, the APHA tests will be required (again at cost).
- Pregnant: if your dog is pregnant there will only have been a maximum of 9 weeks from when she went to stud so the APHA tests and lateral flow would not be appropriate until three months have elapsed. This would mean we need to provide emergency care only and wear full PPE, including FFP3 masks.
- Individual assessments need to be conducted, and an appropriate treatment plan tailored to the dog’s needs.
3. Any dogs travelling to high-risk areas on holiday (via AHC) and returning to the practice should have a blood test for Brucella after three months, as above.
If my dog was tested pre-import, why do they need to be tested again?
After infection or exposure with Brucella Canis it can take up to 12 weeks to produce antibodies. Therefore, we would recommend imported dogs are tested 3 months after import/last exposure to reduce the possibility of a false negative, even if they have tested negative previously. In addition to this, there are different diagnostic tests available with varying degrees of reliability. By testing patients using the recommended tests by APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) we can be confident in the validity of the results.
Why are you introducing this now?
Many practices are now implementing precautionary measures, including our local referral centres. The understanding of the disease has developed, and national guidance evolved. We have been advised by government and agencies and national veterinary bodies that we should take a more proactive approach and introduce screening due to increasing case numbers and the risk to both the general public and the high-risk groups previously mentioned. As most dogs have no symptoms, risk-based testing is important.
What happens if my dog tests positive for brucellosis?
Most dogs tested will have negative results, which means no further action is needed unless they travel to an endemic region or are in close contact with another dog that has.
If the result is positive, we will contact you to discuss the result in detail and explain the next steps. We will need to create a personalised healthcare plan based on your dog’s needs and the impact of the disease on the wider population.
Can I decline testing?
Of course. We will however need to provide care based on an assumption that the pet is infected so that our team are protected. This may mean that we are only able to provide emergency care going forward, whereas a negative result means we can offer full care.
The Test
The test for B. canis involves a single blood sample and two tests, and results are typically available within 7-10 days as the testing is conducted at a government lab. As a routine precaution, our team will wear personal protective equipment when collecting the sample. We will be waiving the blood sampling of £19.50, charging the test at cost (£42.12 inc. V.A.T.) plus the postage fee at cost (£9.95). If we are sending more than one sample in a day, we will reduce the postage fee accordingly.
More information can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/brucella-canis-information-for-the-public-and-dog-owners
