Brucellosis - Etiology, Transmission, Treatment, Prevention

1. College Of Veterinary And Animal
Sciences, Parbhani.
Veterinary Clinical Complex
 Name :- Gattani Ashwin Dwarkadas
 Enrollment Number :- V/18/104
 Internship Batch :- A
 Topic :- Brucellosis

2. Brucellosis
• Bang’s disease,
Contagious abortion,
Malta Fever,
• Undulant fever in man,
Infectious abortion,
Enzootic abortion,
Mediterranean fever

3. Characterized By
• Abortion in late pregnancy, subsequent high
rate of infertility and reduced milk yield
• Acute or chronic contagious disease
• Causes placentitis and abortion
• Infection from animal to man (Undulant fever
in man)

4. Susceptible Hosts
Disease of :-
• Cattle, Buffaloes,
• Sheep,
• Pig,
• Horse and dog

5. Epidemiology
• Brucella abortus was discovered by
Bang in 1897 in Denmark
• Countrywide in India
• 20% rural population suffer from
pyrexia of unknown origin -
brucellosis
• Annual economic loss Rs.240/-
million
• In Developed countries - strict
eradication programme is
followed

6. Etiology
Brucella abortus
Brucella melitensis
Brucella suis
Brucella canis
Cattle & Buffaloes
Goat & Sheep
Pigs
Dogs

7. Etiology
Organisms of Brucella sp.
Are :-
• Non motile
• Non spore forming
• Small gram negative
rods or coccobacilli
• Organisms survive for 60
days in manure, 182 days
in foetal tissues

8. Transmission
• Ingestion of food & water contaminated with
aborted foetus or foetal membranes
• Inhalation
• Abraded skin / Conjuctiva
• Congenital
• Dogs, foxes, etc., eat the infected placenta
and transmit the disease from one farm to
another.
• Flies, ticks, rats, infected bull

9. Pathogenesis
• B. abortus has greater affinity for
pregnant/gravid uterus
• Settle and multiply in Mammary glands,
Testes, Lymph nodes and Joints
• Entry through - mucous membrane of
oropharynx, upper respiratory tract,
conjuctival mucosa, abraded skin and cervix

10. Pathogenesis
After invasion they reach
the lymph nodes
Abortion (last 3month)
&
Ulcerative endometritis
Degenerative change
blood circulation
multiply
Bacteriaemia
Multiply
Gravid uterus &
placenta
Foetal tissues &
Placenta
(erythritol)

11. Pathogenesis
In male the organisms
multiply in - epididymis,
testis & other accessory
sex organs
• Cause - Epididymitis,
orchitis & seminal
vesiculitis
• Infection through
semen
• In male – sterility
occurs

12. Clinical Findings
• Greyish white muco-
purulent discharge
from vagina
• Abortion after
6 months (Last
trimester)
• Premature expulsion
of foetus

13. Clinical Findings
• Retention of placenta
(i.e. foetal membrane)
and mastitis are
common sequelae to
abortion

14. Clinical Findings
• Swelling of bursa of
joints - hygroma
(bursitis)

15. Diagnosis
• Laboratory Tests
• Isolation of organism from tissue
excretions/secretions i.e. stomach
content, lungs of aborted foetus,
spleen, placenta, uterine exudate,
vaginal discharge and milk

16. Diagnosis
• Animal Inoculation Test
• Guineapig is inoculated with suspension
of organs & lymph nodes of foetus, milk,
viginal mucus or uterine exudate matter
• After 6 weeks it is sacrificed
• Lymph nodes swollen, Spleen enlarged,
Agglutinating antibodies detectable in
serum

17. Diagnosis
• Tests for Presence of Antibodies in serum
1.Serum Agglutination test-limitations
2.Compliment Fixation Test
3.Rivanol and Mercaptoethanol Test
4.Milk Ring Test
5.Rose Bengal Precipitation Test

18. Milk Ring Test - Screening test
• Also known as – ABRT (Abortus Bang Ring Test)
• Inexpensive & easy to perform
• Antigen- used- haematoxylin stained
suspension of killed B. abortus organism
• Antigen is mixed with fresh milk (proportion of
drop to each ml) & incubated in water bath at
37c̊ for 30 min
• Positive cases - clums formation

19. RBPT - Rose Bengal Precipitation
Test
• Screening Test
• Rapid test
• Early infection can be
detected
• False+ve reaction- due to
vaccination or
colostral antibody
• False –Ve reaction-
immediate after abortion
-infected animals remain
unrecorded

20. Differential Diagnosis
• Trichomoniasis - Early abortion (2-4 months)
• Leptospirosis - Abortion 6 months onwards,
serum agglutination test
• Vibriosis - abortion at 5-6 months
• Mycotic infections – abortion at 2-7 months

21. Treatment
• No known treatment
• Oxytetracycline,
• Chlortetracycline,
• Penicillin, Streptomycin
These drugs only reduce agglutination titre

22. Control
• Test and slaughter Method (Brucellosis free
countries)
• Hygienic disposal of genital discharges
• Aborted Foetus should be deeply buried
• Foetal membranes should be properly disposed off
• Clean and disinfect the premises
• Newly purchased animals should be kept isolated

23. Control
• Calving should be done
with hygienic
precautions
• Pregnant animals
should not be
purchased

24. Prevention
1) Strain 19 Brucella abortus vaccine
• Can be given to Calves or adult cattle
• Dose – 5 ml s/c
• Adult cows after vaccination develop
agglutinins which persist throughout the life
2) Brucella abortus killed 45/20 vaccine can
be use in adult cows

25. Prevention
• Commercial Brucella abortus C-19 live freeze
dried vaccine
• Female calf vaccinated at the age of 5-7
months (Intervet)