A survey of dogs from Gifu and Shiga area for Brucella canis.

Abstract

A total of 1, 186 dogs from Gifu and Shiga area were surveyed for Brucella canis (B. canis) during a year from April, 1976 to March, 1977. The dogs with serum agglutinin titer of 1:320 or higher against B. canis were sacrificed and their various organs and fluids were cultured for the organisms. Through the year, detection rate confirmed by isolation of B. canis was 2.8% (33 dogs) and no statistically significant difference was found between the two groups (2.5% in Gifu and 3.5% in Shiga), nor between males and females (16 and 17, respectively). Monthly detection rates of infected dogs were fluctuated from 0.8 to 5.5%, but no clear seasonal influence was found. Among the surveyed dogs there were 188 pure bred dogs including 123 dogs weighing more than 20 kg, but non of them was positive for B. canis. All positive dogs were mongrel. B. canis was isolated from various organs, most frequently from the prostate and bladder urine for males and from the lumen of uterus for females in addition to the spleen and lymph nodes of both sexes. B. canis was isolated from bladder urine in 14 out of 16 males, but only 5 out of 17 females by direct cultural method. The number of viable B. canis in bladder urine was more abundant in males than in females. The importance of urine as one route of dissemination of the organism was discussed.