Wisconsin State Veterinarian Issues Special Order to Control Canine Brucellosis

       To protect both canine and human health in Wisconsin from the bacteria that causes canine brucellosis, Dr. Paul McGraw, state veterinarian at the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has issued a special order requiring that dogs that are not spayed or neutered and are bought or obtained at an auction outside the state cannot be imported without meeting new requirements.

       “Canine brucellosis is on the rise in Wisconsin threatening the health of both dogs and their owners,” McGraw said. A significant source of infected dogs are out-of-state dog auctions, where the large-scale sale and movement of untested or known positive dogs often occurs.

       The special order prohibits the importing of a sexually intact dog into Wisconsin that has been bought or obtained from an auction outside the state unless the dog has been issued an import permit from the Department and has documented proof of a negative brucellosis test within 30 days before import.

       Canine brucellosis is caused by a bacterium called Brucella canis. The bacteria cause reproductive failure in dogs, particularly those kept in kennels for breeding purposes, but can also cause a variety of other health problems that develop later in life. The disease is found worldwide, but in the United States is most frequently found in dogs from southern states.

       “Thousands of dogs are transported into Wisconsin from other states annually, in some cases bringing the bacteria into previously uninfected facilities,” McGraw says. The disease is usually spread through contact with infected birthing tissues and fluids, but can also be transmitted by contaminated objects such as bedding, equipment, clothing or shoes. It can also be found in the milk, blood and semen of infected dogs.

       Humans can become infected by direct contact or aerosol exposure to infected animals fluids. In humans, the symptoms of Brucella infection include fever, headache, weakness, chills and weight loss, and can result in significant health issues if not properly diagnosed and treated. Dog handlers who experience these symptoms should contact their healthcare provider.

     Dog breeders and dealers are encouraged to work with a veterinarian to develop protocols for testing new animals and quarantining new animals added to their facility. Dog owners should monitor their dogs for signs of the disease and contact a veterinarian if present.

Source: WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection

    Special Order to Control Canine Brucellosis (pdf)   

    Max the Boxer -- More about Brucellosis   

    Brucellosis Links:

• WI Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection Special Order to Control Canine Brucellosis

• Canine Brucellosis: Important information for dog auction participants (pdf), Wisconsin Division of Public Health

• Canine Brucellosis Caused by Brucella Canis, Recent Advances in Canine Infectious Diseases by L. Carmichael, International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS)

• Recent Advances in Canine Infectious Diseases, by L. Carmichael, International Veterinary Information Service (IVIS)

• Brucellosis: Dog Breeders Shouldn’t Skip Testing for This Dangerous Disease, AKC.org, 2015.

• Canine Brucellosis On the Rise, AKC.org, July 2019.

• Brucellosis, US Dept. of Health and Human Services Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Dr. Bob's All Creatures Site guide to Zoonotic Diseases