Brucella Flashcards
Brucella general characteristics
gram neg coccobacilli
aerobic, non-fermentative
facultative intracellular
capnophillic
Is Brucella zoonotic?
YES
Does brucella require enriched media?
yes - media must be enriched with blood or serum
How is Brucella transmitted?
oral or venereal
Clinical Signs of Brucellosis
abortion + retained placenta
infertility
mastitis
orchitis
epididymitis
seminal abnormalities
testicular atrophy
affects joints
Lesions associated with Brucellosis
placentitis
epididymitis
endometritis
fetus: endema and congestion of lungs
Why is diagnosis of brucellosis difficult in bulls and non-pregnant females?
typically they are asymptomatic
Samples used for cultural examination for brucellosis
fetal stomach contents
placenta
vaginal discharge
semen
milk
lymph nodes
What type of staining is used when diagnosing brucellosis?
modified Ziehl-Neelsen stain
positive smears: small, red staining coccobacilli in clumps
What diagnostic test is used to conifrm diagnosis of brucellosis?
PCR
Serological tests used to diagnose brucellosis
serum agglutination test: detects IgM and IgG2
rose-bengal plate test
milk ring test: neg = blue
complement fixation test
Which strain is used more commonly for vaccination against Brucella abortus?
strain 19
live attenuated
vaccinate female calves 4-12 mo
Why are male calves not vaccinated with Strain 19 B. abortus vaccine?
causes infertility
What are the concerns with the RB51 strain used to vaccinate against B. abortus?
can infect humans via accidental exposure
rough mutant
used in adults
Clinical signs of brucellosis in swine (caused by B. suis)
abortion
sterility
still births
spondylitis
abscesses
What is unique about brucella ovis?
least pathogenic
Clinial signs of brucellosis in sheep
unilateral epipdidymitis
abortion
infertility
Which species does brucella canis infect?
only dogs
highly contagious
Clinical signs of brucellosis in male dogs
epididymitis
prostatitis
chronic: testicular atrophy and sterility
Serological diagnosis of canine brucellosis
positive agglutination test
Treatment for canine brucellosis
antibiotics: tetracyclines and getamicin
for 3 months
difficult to cure - may relapse
Is treatment receommended for breeding dogs positive for brucellosis?
No recommend humane euthanasia
Is there a vaccine available for canine brucellosis?
NO
What is the causative agent of Brucellosis in horses?
B. abortus
What are the clinical signs associated with brucellosis in horses?
abortion is rare
artitis is common
associated with poll evil
What is the causative agent of brucellosis in goats and sheep?
Brucella melitensis
Clinical signs associated with bricellosis in goats and sheep
abortion
orchitis
