Brucella

Question 1

Brucella

Answer 1

small gram-negative cocci, aerobic, fastidious

Question 2

select agents

Answer 2

those which must be reported to the CDC and USDA

Question 3

6 Major Species of Brucella

Answer 3

1. Abortus (cattle)
2. Melitensis (goat)
3. Suis (pig)
4. Canis (dog)
5. Ovis (sheep)
6. Neotomae (mice/rodents)

Question 4

Can cross species infection of Brucella occur?

Answer 4

yes

Question 5

3 Reportable Brucella Species

Answer 5

B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis

Question 6

Transmission of Brucella

Answer 6

ingestion (rarely inhalation)
can be of aborted fetuses, fetal membranes, discharge; in humans would be contaminated meat and dairy products (hopefully)

Question 7

3 Types of Brucella Disease

Answer 7

1. Peracute
2. Acute
3. Chronic

Question 8

Peracute Brucellosis

Answer 8

nonspecific fever, anorexia, fatigue

Question 9

Acute Brucellosis

Answer 9

orchitis, epididymitis, prostatitis in males
abortions/stillbirths, oophoritis in females

Question 10

Chronic Brucellosis in Dogs

Answer 10

discospondylitis, causes neurological issues

Question 11

Chronic Brucellosis in Horses

Answer 11

fistulous withers and/or poll evil

Question 12

Brucellosis Pathogenesis

Answer 12

replicates inside macrophages, dendritic cells, and endothelial cells; survive in Brucella-containing vacuoles; produces Brucella T4SS to prevent lysosomes from fusing with BCVs and bacteria can replicate inside the BCVs

Question 13

erythitol

Answer 13

growth factor for Brucella sp. present in high concentrations in the placenta, mammary glands, and epididymis

Question 14

3 Major Types of Brucella in the US

Answer 14

1. Abortus (feral bison/elk/cattle)
2. Suis (feral swine)
3. Canis (sporadic in dogs)

Question 15

Is commercial swine free of brucellosis?

Answer 15

it better damn well be since it’s a reportable agent

Question 16

Is B. canis reportable?

Answer 16

no, but it might be advisable to reach out anyway

Question 17

milk ring test

Answer 17

Brucella antigen stained with hematoxylin is added to milk. Any agglutinins in the milk, which are carried by the cream as it rises to the surface, react with the antigen

Question 18

Rose-Bengal test

Answer 18

rapid plate agglutination test for Brucella; inexpensive but can have false positives

Question 19

B. canis diagnosis

Answer 19

blood culture (bacteremia can last 18 months) or PCR; can also do IFA or AGID to test for antibody

Question 20

IS177

Answer 20

gene in Brucella genome to detect in a generic PCR

Question 21

Brucella speciation multiplex PCR

Answer 21

utilizes specific primers to
amplify various targets from the
genomic DNA of Brucella species.
producing a distinct banding
pattern specific to different
species

Question 22

Canine brucellosis treatment

Answer 22

LIFELONG infection that can be managed with antibiotics, no vaccine either