1. BRUCELLOSIS-2 Lecture on Epidemiology – 07-03-2012 L. Makrai
SZIU-FVS, Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

2. OVINE EPIDIDYMITIS AND ORCHITIS CAUSED BY Brucella ovis
Occurs in most sheep-raising regions of the world (Australia, New Zealand, North and South America, South Africa, many countries in Europe)
Infertility, epididymitis, orchitis in rams
Sporadic abortion in ewes (placentitis)
Increased perinatal mortality
B. ovis, only sheep is susceptible

3. Epidemiology
Introduction into a herd: with matured, infected, asymptomatic rams
B. ovis is shed with urine and semen
Lifelong infection
Ewe: infected with semen (venereal transmission) several month – get shot of brucella
ascending infection: epididymis, testicle, accessory genital glands: inflammation, necrosis, oedema, fibrosis, spermatokele

4. B. ovis (epididymitis and orchitis)
HAJTÓS DR.
B. ovis (epididymitis and orchitis)

5. Clinical and Pathological findings
incubation period: 5-9 weeks
skin of scrotum is flushed
painfull and enlarged epididymis and testicles
abnormal gait
unilateral or bilateral testicular atrophy with swelling and hardening of the epididymis
decreasing quality of semen and sexual activity, reduced fertility in rams
Chronic lesions: abscesses and necrotic foci in the testicles, uneven surface, calcification
sporadic abortion in ewes
increased perinatal mortality

6. Diagnosis Epidemiological situation, clinical signs
Palpation of testicles
microscopic and bacteriological examination of semen
serology: - AGID
- CFT
- ELISA
PCR (urine, semen, preputial washes)
Differential diagnosis: - Histophilus somni
- Actinobacillus seminis
- B. melitensis
Treatment: Pointless!

7. Prevention, Eradication
Castration of infected rams!
young, immature rams: separated rearing
ELISA test 4-6 weeks intervals: removing seropositive rams

9. SWINE BRUCELLOSIS Occurence Worldwide in swine-raising regions
It has been eradicated from domesticated pigs in the US, Canada, European countries and Australia, but it persits in wild and feral swine population.
Biotype 1-3: worldwide
2: wild boars in Europe
4: arctic regions of North America, and Russia
5: in the former USSR (murine brucellosis)

10. Pathogenesis: like cattle,
Etiology:
B. suis bt
Epidemiology:
Introduction into a herd:
- with infected, asymptomatic breeding animals
- vehicles, instruments
- dog, wild boar
Pathogenesis: like cattle,
Infection is aquired by ingestion or by coitus
but: orchitis, vertebral osteomyelitis can be seen more frequently

11. Clinical signs: bacteraemia: gen. asymptomatic
sows: abortion (any gestation period),
stillbirth, neonatal mortality increase,
non-viable or poorly developed piglets,
vaginal discharge for several days
temporary sterility
boars: excreting brucellae in semen (with or without clin. signs)
Testicular abnormalities: orchitis, sterility
Lameness, incoordination, posterior paralysis: vertebral abscess, fractures

12. Pathology:
Fetus: odema of fetus and fetal membranes, small haemorrhages, maceration, mumifiction
Sows: necrotic foci in uterine wall
Boars: enlarged testicle, inflammatory necrotic foci
Lesions in bones and joints: vertebral body - deformities

13. dr. Deim Zoltán felvétele

14. dr. Deim Zoltán felvétele

15. dr. Deim Zoltán felvétele

18. Eradication: Stock exchange!
Diagnosis:
Isolation of B. suis
serology: Slide agglutination, tube agglutination, CFT, ELISA: susceptibility and specificity also low:
only for livestock diagnosis!!!
Treatment: NO!
Eradication: Stock exchange!

19. Maintain the disease-free status:
Control of the import of susceptible animals
Examination of abortion cases in diagnostic institutes
Serological survey of breeding boars in each 6 month
Serological examination of 10% of sows in each year
Keeping wild boars away from swineherds

21. CANINE BRUCELLOSIS Occurence Susceptibility
Worldwide (America, Asia, Africa)
Europe: sporadic, everywhere
Free: New Zealand, Australia
Susceptibility
B. canis
B. melitensis
B. abortus
B. suis

22. Epidemiology Host spectrum Infection Shedding bacteria:
narrow, dogs and the members of wild Canidae
zoonosis (more, than 40 cases in the literature)
Infection
oronasal contact, through mucous membranes
(oral cavity, vagina, conjunctiva)
infective dosis:
p.o.: 106 CFU
conjunctiva: CFU
Shedding bacteria:
bitches: vaginal discharge (during oestrus, and mating),
fetus, fetal fluid (1010 CFU/ml)
6 weeks after abortion
males: settle down in the postate and epididymis
semen, urine: CFU/ml
for 2 years

23. Clinical signs No characteristic clinical signs, asymptomatic
Enlargement of lymph nodes
Pregnant bitches:
abortion (between days),
reproduction failures (decreased fertility)
Reduced litter size
Neonatal mortality
Most bitches that have aborted subsequently have normal gestations.
Males: infertility, epididymitis, orchitis, prostatitis
Scrotal dermatitis (saliva!)
Dogs with chronic infections are often aspermic.
rare: discospondylitis (lameness, paresis, paralysis), uveitis

24. B. canis
Leland E. Carmichael és Craig E. Greene, 1998

25. Diagnosis Examination of semen Isolation of B. canis
p.i. 5. weeks, inflammatory cells, morphological alteration of sperm
Isolation of B. canis
from blood: pi 2-4 weeks – for years (5.5 years)
Serological examination
Slide aggl., Tube Aggl., AGID, IF, ELISA
Earliest positive result: pi weeks

26. Fate of infected animal
Removal of infected animals from the kennel and from breeding prgrammes.
Castration (neutering) of infected dog and treatment with antibiotics reduces the risk of transmission.

27. Treatment For 4 weeks or Extermination of infected animals!
Combination of
tetracyclines (minocycline) and
aminoglycosides (streptomicin)
For 4 weeks or
Extermination of infected animals!

28. Prevention serological examination:
Breeding dogs: in each 6 month
Introduction of a new dog into the kennel: two times in 1 month intervals
Breeding animals 3-4 weeks before mating.
If a dog leave the kennel: before readmission.
Do not get dogs from a kennel, where reproductive problems occurs
No vaccines available!

30. Brucellosis of other species
Horse (B. abortus) – arthritis, bursitis and tendovaginitis, fistolous withers, poll-evil
Wild ruminants (B. abortus)
Wild boars (B. suis) – source of B. s. infection in domestic pigs reared outdoors
Wild hare (B. suis bt. 2.)

34. „hazelnut chocolate” spleen (wild hare – Brucellosis (B. suis bt. 2))
dr. Gyuranecz M. felvétele

35. Brucella suis (chocolate agar, 37°C, 72 hours)

36. B. suis bt. 4. (arthritis, reindeer)

38. HUMAN BRUCELLOSIS
One of the most fequently seen bacterial zoonosis in the Earth new patient/year!
Human is susceptible: MID50
B. melitensis (101)
B. abortus (103)
B. suis (105)
B. canis (106)
B. ceti
B. pinnipedialis +
Infection:
- ingestion (po): raw -unpasteurized- milk!
and dairy products made from this,
- skin abrasions: during abortion, amniotic fluid, urine
- inhalation (lab infections)

39. Incidence of human brucellosis

40. Clinical signs and pathological findings
- incubation period: 5-14 days (3 months)
- undulant fever (fluctuating pyrexia), malaise,
inappetence, fatigue, muscle and joint pains
- drenching sweats (at night)
- bone and joints alterations
(sacroiliitis, spondylitis, arthritis, osteomyelitis)
- swelling of liver and spleen (33%)
- lymph node alterations (10%)
- alteration in urinary and genital tract (glomerulonephritis,
kidney abscess, orchitis, epididymitis) (10%)
- CNS signs (7%)
- endocarditis
(B. canis: can be asymptomatic, just seroconversion)

41. Treatment of human brucellosis:
Should be administered early in an infection!
rifampicin
gentamycin
trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole
doxycycline, minocycline
ciprofloxacin
streptomycin
Long-term treatment may be required!

42. Diagnosis Anamnesis! Haemoculture
serology (B. canis Ag!!!), no crossreaction with B. abortus Ag!!!
Slide agglutination
Tube agglutination
ELISA
Fals diagnosis:
Lack of appropriate serological kit (S-R)
Occurence of the disease is underestimated
Time after the first clinical signs
Slide agglutination titer
2 months 32
3 months 16
8 months 2

43. Prevention
Veterinarians: examination of abortion cases - use of gloves and other protective clothing
Education of owners about the danger of rearing of brucella infected animals
Consumption of Raw milk should be avoided!
Laboratory: safety rules must comply!
The rules of common sense must be observed if we live together with animals!