Brucella Canis

RE: Brucella Canis

Michael Woodhouse — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 23:58:11 GMT

[quote userid="10123" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31275/brucella-canis/248072#248072"]It has to be said that the side effects of the treatment are worse than the disease symptoms in this case.[/quote]

Whilst I feel bad that anyone gets ill at work, if the statement above is true then it's not that bad.

I'm sure we've all treated lepto dogs and a quick google gives 8.8-40% (for severe cases) mortality rate in people. I've had campylobater. My assistant had crypto.

[quote userid="10123" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31275/brucella-canis/248072#248072"]according to a recent statistics post on that page, does not exist.[/quote]

The poor lass does frequent FOI requests so I believe she looks thoroughly in absolute good faith. I think we can still confidently say human cases are rare and cases in veterinary staff remain extremely rare. I still believe we are completely over-reacting, but I wish your colleague well.

RE: Brucella Canis

Alasdair Hotston Moore — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 09:22:19 GMT

[quote userid="10123" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31275/brucella-canis/248074#248074"] There is so little information on treating B.canis in humans[/quote]

Is that because human infection is rare though?

RE: Brucella Canis

Noweia — Sun, 07 Dec 2025 09:03:52 GMT

Did everyone exposed need blood tests too, after this staff member was tested?

RE: Brucella Canis

Ian Paterson — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 22:12:21 GMT

Almost certainly contracted after ovariohysterectomy surgery on an infected bitch. There is so little information on treating B.canis in humans that drugs used/duration of treatment is somewhat extrapolated from evidence that exists with B.bovis cases. It’s quite possible that a 12 week course isn’t necessary for B.canis but I think it depends on other factors such as positive PCR results from intra-articular spaces etc.

RE: Brucella Canis

Dinu Catilina — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:59:26 GMT

Pretty horrible Ian, do you know the circumstances of how the infection occurred? Of course without details that may reveal to whom or where it happened.

RE: Brucella Canis

Ian Paterson — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:49:37 GMT

[quote userid="3169" url="~/f/clinical-questions/31275/brucella-canis/248071#248071"]Follow Louise's page on Facebook. She's an RVN with a PhD. Clever lady, fully gets EBVM. It's nothing to worry about. I thought it was like brucella bovis and its not.[/quote]

Don’t believe everything you read on Facebook. I have a veterinary colleague currently mid way through a 12 week course of rifampicin/doxycycline who, according to a recent statistics post on that page, does not exist. Whilst nothing like B.bovis in clinical presentation it does still cause symptomatic disease and would be something of concern to those infected. It has to be said that the side effects of the treatment are worse than the disease symptoms in this case.

My colleague’s vague symptoms and a significant lack of understanding of B.canis infection within the health service led to a 6 month journey to reach the diagnosis.

Sometimes the problem with a purely evidence based medicine approach is that there just isn’t enough evidence out there yet to enable us to make the right decisions.

RE: Brucella Canis

Michael Woodhouse — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 21:39:32 GMT

Do nothing unless symptomatic. Far too many false positives. Where are the human cases in endemic countries? They don't exist.

What precautions do you take with every single puppy you see and campylobacter? Arguably common and a much greater risk.

Follow Louise's page on Facebook. She's an RVN with a PhD. Clever lady, fully gets EBVM. It's nothing to worry about. I thought it was like brucella bovis and its not.

https://www.facebook.com/BrucellaCanisRVN

Louise Buckley

RE: Brucella Canis

Dinu Catilina — Thu, 27 Nov 2025 14:52:50 GMT

A proportionate response in my opinion is to not do too much, the risk is very low. If you want to be as safe as you can then APHA can run several types of Brucella tests.

I struggle to see why every imported dog should be tested but I understand the concerns with rescue dogs.