Brucella Canis
Brucella canis or B. canis is a bacterial infection which can be transmitted from dogs to humans. In the UK, it is mainly found in dogs imported from Eastern Europe. There have only been a small number of suspect cases reported in dogs in Northern Ireland (NI). Human to human transmission of B. canis is extremely rare. No human cases have been reported in NI.
The risk of B. canis to most people is very low. Dog breeders and owners of imported dogs may be at a higher risk and should take steps to reduce the risk of infection.
Most contact with an infected dog will not cause a person to become unwell, but direct contact with fluids from an infected dog, especially reproductive secretions and birthing products, may increase the risk of infection spreading.
It appears some dogs without symptoms can still spread disease, so it is important to practice good hand hygiene and reduce contact with birthing products and reproductive secretions of all imported dogs.
If a dog is infected, in addition to spreading the disease via reproductive secretions and birthing products, it can pass the disease to other dogs through mating and to its puppies (congenital infection).
Dogs which live in the same home as an infected dog may be more likely to become infected themselves.