What is Brucella canis?
Our infection control team have put together this information resource to help you understand our position on Brucella and how we manage cases where there is a clinical suspicion.
Brucella canis is a type of bacteria that can cause infection in dogs. It is endemic to some parts of the world, especially Eastern Europe, but is not thought to be widespread in the UK. However, dogs who have travelled or been imported from abroad can sometimes carry it. brucellosis in dogs is very hard, if not impossible, to treat effectively. Thus, dogs are assumed to be life-long carriers once they are infected which means they act as a source of infection to other dogs (and people).
Brucella canis can cause a variety of possible problems including inflammation of the joints (polyarthritis), infection of the intervertebral discs in the back (discospondylitis), enlarged lymph nodes, fever, vaginal or preputial discharge, abortion and testicular asymmetry.
All dogs imported from, or with a travel history to a high-risk region require testing before they can be treated at Eastcott Referrals. This is due to the risk to our staff, to you and your family as well as other dogs in our care.
Why does my dog need to be tested?
More dogs are now travelling from other countries, and we’re seeing occasional cases of B. canis in the UK. Dogs can carry the infection without showing any signs of illness, so testing helps us make sure both your pet and our team stay safe. Testing also allows us to send samples to external laboratories when needed many labs require a negative B. canis test before accepting samples from dogs that have travelled abroad.
Can people catch Brucella canis?
B. canis is a zoonotic disease which means it can, in rare cases, infect people. The risk is very low, but it can be higher for people who are pregnant, have young children, or have weakened immune systems.
It is spread through close contact with infected body fluids (for example, during whelping or handling blood or urine).
Which dogs need a test?
All dogs with a travel history to certain countries listed by the UK Health Security Agency unless in possession of a confirmed APHA negative test performed more than 3 months after latest exposure event (travel abroad).
The tests we use in the clinic are not perfect and there is a risk of false positives (identifying the disease when it is not present) and false negatives (not identifying the disease when it is present). The risk of a false negative is thought to be very low in dogs that do not have clinical signs.
If your dog has been previously tested at the AHPA a minimum of 3 months after returning to the U.K from a high-risk country, we will need to see the results before your appointment.
If your pet is not unwell enough to warrant hospitalisation you may need to return at another time once external blood tests are available.
Unfortunately, if you refuse testing, we will not be able to admit your pet to the hospital for diagnostic procedures or surgery.
What does the test involve?
We take a small blood sample. The area on your dog’s neck may be gently clipped for access. Tests are run in house and results are ready in about 20 minutes.
Ideally for all routine cases the recommendation is that we submit a sample to the APHA lab for testing. These results can take up to two weeks and so we recommend the test is carried out by your primary care vet before you travel to Eastcott Referrals. The APHA test is more accurate than the in house test.
What if the result is negative?
Brucella canis is not common, and the vast majority of tests are negative.
APHA test negative: your dog can continue with their treatment journey with us as normal.
Snap test negative – the clinician will assess the overall risk in light of this result including whether additional testing would be advisable before undertaking certain procedures.
The result will be added to their clinical record and will remain valid unless they risk exposure via travel, or contact with dogs that have travelled.
An additional test will need to be performed if your dog is showing clinical signs that could be caused by an active Brucella canis.
What if the test is positive?
If your dog’s test is positive from an in house Snap test, we always send a second sample to APHA to confirm the result.
Because B. canis can be passed to people and other animals, we’ll explain what precautions to take while waiting for the confirmation.
What happens if the positive result is confirmed?
B. canis is a notifiable disease, which means vets must report confirmed cases to the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA).
Public Health England (PHE) advises that positive dogs should not be walked in public or allowed contact with other dogs or people outside your household.
You can find more information on the Government’s website: www.gov.uk.
Can my dog be treated or cured?
Unfortunately, there’s currently no reliable cure for B. canis. Treatment is rarely successful, and even if a dog seems better, they can still spread the infection. For this reason, euthanasia is often recommended to protect other dogs and people, though this is not legally required. We understand how difficult this is and will support you through every step and discussion.
Will Eastcott Referrals still care for my dog?
Yes, if your dog tests positive, we will still provide care where possible. However, we must take extra precautions to protect our staff and other patients. This may mean:
- Additional protective clothing and safety measures
- Some treatments or procedures may not be available
- Extra costs to cover PPE and isolation requirements
Our team will explain all your options and help you make the best decision for your dog.
Referring Vets Only - how to approach testing
- Ideally test all dogs that have travelled to high-risk countries so that results are available prior to their referral appointment.
- Ensure that this information is clear for our client care team to avoid duplication of testing or unnecessary delays to care
- Submit serology to the APHA prior to referral – this can be done directly to the AHPA or via your normal external reference lab.
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- Please submit Slide agglutination test (SAT) TC1032 and indirect ELISA (iELISA) TC0116
- These results take a minimum of 7 days as a routine but can be fast-tracked
- Use our advice form if you have any further questions
Referring Vets Only - how to approach testing
- In this flowchart you can see the decision making process that we follow in managing these cases.
Brucella infections are notifiable to the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency)
Vets can contact Eastcott Referrals via our advice form