The Minnesota Board of Animal Health is tracking increased cases of canine brucellosis linked to dogs being imported from areas of the country where the disease is endemic in stray dogs. Each detection is incredibly disheartening because one case can lead to many more affected dogs being discovered, and each canine brucellosis-positive dog is considered not-curable, and must either be euthanized or quarantined for life. Some of the recent cases in Minnesota affected entire litters and Board staff tracked down individual litter mates in their new adoptive homes to evaluate the risk of disease spread.
Canine brucellosis poses the highest risk to sexually intact animals, and also can spread among spayed or neutered animals. It's spread dog-to-dog in birth tissues, fluids, semen, saliva, urine and stool. This bacteria can also infect people, and the disease is zoonotic. The Minnesota Department of Health has resources for human infections and potential symptoms. The bacteria is easily killed by routine disinfectants. However, it can survive in the environment for months (including winter in Minnesota).
In dogs, the clinical signs include reproductive issues, abortions, inability to conceive, spinal infection and chronic back pain, urinary tract issues, enlarged lymph nodes, and other non-specific signs. Unfortunately, many positive dogs show no signs of infection.
The Board recommends testing all intact dogs coming into Minnesota from high-risk areas between 8-12 weeks after their last known possible exposure, and to test any dog that has contact with an infected dog. Testing is complicated and veterinarians or anyone interested in testing should contact the Board at companion.animal@state.mn.us to discuss tests and protocols.
Categories: Minnesota, Rural Lifestyle