The Cherey One Health Foundation’s first project is to conduct a study to determine the prevalence of B. canis in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The study will involve screening a sample of at least 1,500 dogs.. This sample size is large enough to accurately estimate the true prevalence in the population with 95% confidence and a margin of error of ±0.5%. TCOHF is hoping this data will provide valuable information on the occurrence and distribution of the disease in the canine population. This information will be used to assess the risk of transmission to humans and to develop strategies for prevention and control of the disease. According to the CDC, B. canis infection in dogs is underrecognized. The true prevalence of the disease in dogs is not well understood, and it is considered to be underreported in human medicine. A risk assessment would help to identify populations at greatest risk of exposure to B. canis, and to develop targeted interventions to reduce the risk of transmission. The potential impact of human B. canis infection is greatest for those with underlying health concerns or Brucella specific risk factors. Overall, a serological prevalence study of dogs for B. canis along with a risk assessment will improve our understanding of B. canis and its impact on public health.
Canine brucellosis is a contagious bacterial infection caused by the bacterium, Brucella canis (B. canis). This bacterial infection is highly contagious between dogs and usually results in an infection of the reproductive system, or a sexually transmitted disease¹.
Male dogs both intact as well as not intact infected with brucellosis develop epididymitis, an infection in part of the testicle. A dog with a newly acquired infection will often have an enlarged scrotum or an enlarged testicle and may have a skin rash on the scrotum. The dog may be infertile. In chronic or long-standing cases, the testicles will atrophy or become shrunken. Female dogs infected with brucellosis develop an infection of the uterus. Large numbers of B. canis bacteria are shed in the genital secretions (semen or vaginal discharges) of an infected dog. Smaller amounts of bacteria may also be shed in the dog’s urine or saliva. A neutered or spayed dog is capable of shedding bacteria for the rest of its life despite treatment with antibiotics
TCOHF is gathering this data to perform serological prevalence study of dogs for B. canis will provide valuable information on the occurrence and distribution of the disease in the canine population. This information will be used to assess the risk of transmission to humans and to develop strategies for prevention and control of the disease. According to the CDC, B. canis infection in dogs is underrecognized. The true prevalence of the disease in dogs is not well understood, and it is considered to be underreported in human medicine. A risk assessment would help to identify populations at greatest risk of exposure to B. canis, and to develop targeted interventions to reduce the risk of transmission. The potential impact of human B. canis infection is greatest for those with underlying health concerns or Brucella specific risk factors. Overall, a serological prevalence study of dogs for B. canis along with a risk assessment will improve our understanding of B. canis and its impact on public health.
(1) Brucellosis in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospitals. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/canine-brucellosis.
(2) Dogs | Veterinarians | Brucellosis | CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/brucellosis/veterinarians/dogs.html.
(3) Brucellosis: Brucella canis – CFSPH. https://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/brucellosis_canis.pdf.
(4) Canine Brucellosis: Facts for Dog Owners – The Official Web Site for …. https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/documents/topics/Brucellosis/Canine%20Brucellosis%20Fact%20Sheet-%20general%20public-%20NJDOH.pdf.
(5) I. DESCRIPTION AND EPIDEMIOLOGY BRUCELLOSIS IN DOGS (CANINE BRUCELLOSIS …. https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/IDBGuidanceforCALHJs-CanineBrucellosis.pdf.