brucella canis is a zoonotic bacterial pathogen that affects dogs and dogs very difficult to diagnose and treat. Their intracellular nature and multiple evasion and multiplication mechanisms within the host have implications for treatment failure or relapse of infection.

Regarding the treatment, there is no universally accepted antimicrobial protocol. Although combination antimicrobial therapy has been shown to be more effective than monotherapy protocols, the ideal combination of antimicrobials and the duration of treatment are necessary to reduce clinical signs and reduce the risk of recurrence. not yet defined properly.

On the other hand, the standard reference diagnosis of B. canis This is done by isolating the bacteria with culture. However, due to intermittent excretion, antigen detection techniques have poor sensitivity.

Instead, the initial diagnosis is often made by qualitative screening serological tests, such as the enzyme-linked immunosorbent test (ELISA), but this test has low specificity.

A new alternative screening test has recently been developed, dog experiment Brucella multiplex (CBM)a method that simultaneously measures antibodies directed against 2 specific antigens of Brucella, BP26 and PO1. The CBM test has the advantage of being produced with synthetic reagents which are produced efficiently and provide quantitative results.

In this sense, a group of scientists from the United States has conducted a study with the aim of elucidating the diagnosis, treatment and clinical outcome in dogs treated for infection B. canis and to evaluate the performance of the CBM test to monitor response to treatment in these cases.

To do Studyhospital records of dogs undergoing repeated serological testing B canis. Records were requested to compare the clinical presentation and outcome of dogs treated for infection, and changes in CBM antibody titers were compared between dogs with and without resolution of clinical signs.

Although treatment protocols varied in the 30 dogs that met the inclusion criteria, polyantimicrobial therapy was prescribed in 97% (29/30) cases. gait abnormalities, Spinal pain and dyspondylitis are the most common clinical disorders.

A significant difference was also found in the percentage decrease in the PO1 antibody titer of the CBM test in dogs with resolved clinical signs.

Given these results, the authors consider that “Young dogs with recurrent lameness or back pain should be checked for infection B. canis”.

In addition, “a 40% reduction in CBM test values ​​2 to 6 months after treatment may support the effectiveness of the therapy.”

However, “further prospective studies are needed to determine the ideal treatment regimen for B. canis And the magnitude of the public health risk associated with keeping animals infected with a pathogen”.

EMERGING DISEASES IN EUROPE

That Countries with high feral dog populations often have a higher incidence brucella canis, because it is most often transmitted through reproductive contact between dogs. In certain cases, humans can also be infected Brucella and as a result suffered from severe symptoms that even required hospitalization.

Although little is known about the epidemiological situation in Europe, brucellosis is considered a new disease. In a study of the prevalence of the disease in dogs from different regions of Europe, such as Italy, Spain, France or Denmark, antibodies to brucella canis in 5.4% of the samples sent.

Different European countries have shown their concern in recent times. In the great Britainstatistics reveal an alarming increase in cases, because before 2020 there were only three confirmed cases, however, from the beginning of 2020 until the end of 2021, a a total of 87 dogs tested positive. His countries of origin are Romania, Bosnia, South Africa, Greece, Afghanistan and Belarus, plus a dog from England who is on holiday abroad. Only since early 2022, 20 cases have been detectedall imported, bred with imported dogs or with a history of traveling abroad.

For example, last August, reported in England on first human case of this disease. The woman contracted the disease from a German shepherd imported from Belarus, and was forced to euthanize all of her family’s dogs after animal-to-animal transmission of the infection.

BRUSELOSIS IN SPAIN

In Spain, among the 5.4% of positive samples detected in a European study of the prevalence of brucellosis, 11.7% were from Spain. However, Anthony Arenaprofessor at the University of Córdoba and vice president of the Association of Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, stated that “No reason to worry”Even though he stressed the importance of prevention to prevent the spread of infectious diseases like this.

“This disease is difficult to occur in humans, because dog brucellosis cannot be transmitted between humans, transmission always occurs between dogs and other dogs or between dogs and humans, although this last case, as I said, is much rarer,” explained the professor. “The important thing, as with all zoonoses, is to notice potential cases and isolate them immediately to prevent their spread”.

“For example, if in a kennel there is a potentially infected bitch about to give birth, it is very important that during delivery, it is completely isolated, because all her waste, such as the placenta, is highly contaminated. and if they come into contact with other animals, the disease can spread quickly”, added the expert.

In addition, veterinarians recommend ensuring that all dogs are imported from countries where the disease is present brucella canis inspected approximately one month before import and, if possible, should be sterilized.