Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella that mainly infects cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs. It is characterized by abortion in late pregnancy and subsequent infertility in animals. The disease is transmitted through contact with aborted fetuses or birth tissues and causes significant economic losses. Diagnosis involves isolating the bacteria from infected tissues and testing for antibodies. Vaccination with Brucella abortus strain 19 is used for prevention in cattle.

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)