In-house Brucellosis Testing
What is brucellosis? Brucellosis canis is an infectious bacterial disease. While it is often considered a sexually transmitted disease in dogs, infected animals can shed organisms in urine, saliva and nasal secretions. Disease transmission is primarily by ingestion or inhalation.
How do you test for brucellosis? It is a simple blood test.
How long does the test/results take? We do the test in-house and have the results within 10 minutes.
Can males and females be positive? Yes, the disease affects both male and female dogs.
Can you get a false negative/positive result? False negative results are uncommon. False positive results do occur occasionally. Anytime a positive result is obtained, a follow-up test is done in-house. If that test is also positive, a sample is sent to a specialized laboratory. These results can take up to three weeks to obtain.
If so, when do you retest? If the in-house retest is negative, it is likely a true negative, but could also mean testing was done in the early stages of infection. Another test in 30 days is recommended. If the in-house retest is positive, the follow-up is sent to the laboratory as soon as possible.
When and why is it important to test my pet? Even though they may show no clinical signs, infection will lead to abortion, stillborn or early death of affected puppies. In males, infection of the testes can lead to infertility. In both sexes, infection can result in eye and spinal problems. Because of the contagious nature of the disease, testing is critical. Brood bitches should be tested before every breeding. Active stud dogs should be tested every six months, dogs used at stud occasionally should be tested before each breeding.
What are the symptoms of brucellosis? In bitches the disease often goes undiagnosed until reproductive problems become obvious, as there may be no clinical signs. Male dogs may have swelling of the scrotum followed by atrophy of the testes. Infection of the skin over the scrotum may also occur.
What is the treatment for brucellosis? Long-term antibiotic treatment is sometimes successful. Male dogs must be neutered. Because the disease is highly contagious, infected dogs must be isolated for extended periods of time. Unfortunately due to the difficulties of strict isolation, euthanasia is often necessary.
What if my bitch is diagnosed positive after she is already pregnant? Depending on the patient’s health and symptoms, steps should be taken under the supervision of a veterinarian.
Are humans at risk? It can be transmitted to humans, but it is rare.
