By Lynn Broom
Longmead Veterinary Practice.

Brucella is a family of bacteria which infect the reproductive system of mammals. Different species infect different animals although many can cross species and cause infection in humans. Brucellosis in cattle (Brucella abortus) has been eradicated from the UK following careful monitoring and culling, but Brucella canis is being brought into the UK by imported dogs.

Brucella abortus is a notifiable disease in cattle and confirmed cases must be culled. James Herriot – real name Alf Wight – became infected from cattle and had recurring episodes of illness during his life. Brucella canis is not notifiable but DEFRA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) recommend euthanasia in confirmed infection in dogs.
Brucella canis is present in many European countries and, in a 2020 survey, Greece had the highest number of infections in Europe. Many eastern European countries were not included in the survey and so their infection rates remain unknown but levels are likely to be higher in countries where dogs roam and mate freely.

Brucellosis in dogs is primarily a reproductive disease and infection is typically spread through mating but people can become infected from contact with aborted fetuses and associated materials. Risk of transfer of infection to other dogs and humans is low, but not impossible, in neutered dogs.
The bacteria can enter the body by inhalation, ingestion – from eating under-cooked infected meat – or through open wounds. This risk is higher for veterinary staff when neutering infected dogs due to close contact with infected reproductive tissue. Initial symptoms are fever, muscle pain and fatigue, and chronic infection can cause recurrent or long-term symptoms. Infection can cause abortion and long-term infertility in men and women. Immuno-compromised people, including the very young and elderly, are at increased risk.

In 2022 a woman in the UK developed brucellosis and became seriously ill after becoming infected from a pregnant dog she was fostering which aborted. The dog had been imported from Belarus. A number of other dogs within the same house also became infected and were euthanased.
A serology – looking for antibodies – blood test can confirm contact with the infection. Most dogs once infected are assumed infected for life. Even a course of a triple combination of antibiotics has been shown to be ineffective at permanently clearing infection in dogs.

Responsible importers will blood test before import and you should ensure that you only take on an imported dog which has been blood tested negative. It is important to get lab results provided which confirm a negative result for Brucella canis. If you own an imported dog which does not have a negative result please inform your vet so that they can give you advice and take appropriate action to protect the health of veterinary staff.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is campaigning to make it a legal requirement that all dogs are tested negative before allowing import into the UK to maintain this country’s brucella-free status. With appropriate action we can prevent the importation of this disease in dogs by blood testing. Testing already imported dogs will ensure that your family and your other dogs remain safe from infection.