Canine Brucellosis: Insights Into the Epidemiologic Situation in Europe.

Gesine Buhmann,Frauke Paul,Georg Wolf,Werner Herbst,Falk Melzer,Katrin Hartmann,Andrea Fischer

doi:10.3389/fvets.2019.00151

Abstract

Brucella canis is one of many responsible pathogens of discospondylitis in dogs and infections require specific management. Little is known about the epidemiologic situation in Europe. The purpose of the study was to get insights into the occurrence of brucellosis in dogs in Europe. The database of a European veterinary laboratory was screened for Brucella positive samples. Additionally, medical records of a veterinary hospital in Germany were screened for diagnosis of discospondylitis and brucellosis. The laboratory received samples from 20 European countries for Brucella testing in dogs: 3.7% of submitted samples were Brucella spp. PCR-positive (61/1,657), and Brucella canis antibodies were identified in 5.4% of submitted samples (150/2,764). Brucella spp. PCR-positive samples originated from Spain (11.1% of submitted samples), Poland (6.7% of submitted samples) and rarely from Italy and France. Samples with Brucella canis antibodies originated from 13 European countries (Sweden, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Norway, Poland, France, Netherlands). Young dogs (0–24 months) had a 5.4-fold increased risk of PCR positive samples. The supplementary medical records search identified four young female dogs (7–30 months) with Brucella canis discospondylitis in Germany. The four dogs had been imported to Germany from Eastern European countries (Moldavia, Romania, Macedonia). In conclusion, infection with Brucella canis needs to be considered in dogs in Europe and diagnostics for Brucella canis infection appear indicated in young dogs with discospondylitis.

Highlights

Veterinary neurologists are frequently confronted with spinal pain in dogs
The laboratory had received 4,421 samples from dogs for testing for Brucella infection: 1,657 samples were submitted for detection of Brucella spp. with polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and 2,764 samples were submitted for detection of B. canis antibodies
PCR-positive samples originated from four European countries: Spain, Poland, Italy and France (Figure 1A)

Summary

Introduction

Veterinary neurologists are frequently confronted with spinal pain in dogs. One differential diagnosis of spinal pain is discospondylitis. The most common etiologies of discospondylitis in dogs are Staphylococcus species, and less frequently Streptococcus species, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus species and Brucella canis or Brucella suis, as well. Routine diagnosis relies on spinal radiographs, CT or MRI, blood cultures and needle aspirates of effected disc spaces using fluoroscopy or CT. A special approach is required for diagnosis of Brucella discospondylitis [1,2,3]. Brucella canis (B. canis) is a gram-negative, facultative intracellular coccobacillus which has been reported in many regions of the world and is considered endemic in Southern USA, in Central and South America and in Mexico [4,5,6,7,8].

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