Over the past few weeks several UK labs have reported the diagnosis of Brucella canis in dogs imported from Romania. 

Due to the significant zoonotic risk to both practice personnel and our own laboratory employees, we would like to warn you to take appropriate biosecurity measures when handling dogs or submitting samples of overseas origin (especially from Romania) or a relevant travel history.

It is important when making laboratory submissions that details of importation or travel history are clearly marked on both the outside of the packaging and at the top of the submission form.  This will alert us to handle such submissions appropriately and take the necessary precautions to protect our employees.  We would also like to take this opportunity to remind our clients that it is important to clearly mark submission forms for any other samples for which there is a suspicion may contain zoonotic pathogens.

Many of the reported cases of Brucella canis are asymptomatic or display non-specific clinical signs.   More typical cases can present with a combination of discospondylitis, osteomyelitis, polyarthritis or meningoencephalitis, pyogranulomatous dermatitis and/or lymphadenopathy.

Please call us if you would like further information or to discuss a clinical case.