It is an infectious-contagious disease, acute or chronic, that affects both animals and man. It causes reproductive problems, such as miscarriages, infertility, and weak offspring.
Synonymy
Bang disease, contagious abortion
Etiology
It is produced by a Bacteria of the genus Brucella (abortus, melitensis, suis, canis, ovis) is an intracellular, gram-negative, non-mobile, capsule-free, aerobic coccobacillus. Four biotypes of this agent have been identified: 1, 2, 3 and 4, with biotype 1 being responsible for 85% of infections.
Source of infection in animals
- Feeding calves or animals of other species with milk from infected cows.
- Ingestion of pasture or water contaminated by placentas, placental fluids, or other secretions from infected cows .
- Contact of healthy animals with secretions and excretions of brucellosis animals, through mucous membranes or skin wounds.
- Artificial insemination (contaminated semen and / or contaminated materials).
It is important to note that most infected cows remain so throughout their lives.
Source of infection in man
- Consumption of raw milk or contaminated dairy derivatives.
- Handling of aborted fetuses, placentas, fetal fluids.
- Vaccine accidents.
- Handling meat from brucellosis animals (It occurs mainly in slaughterers, meat handlers or vendors, housewives and veterinarians)
Symptoms
The predominant sign in pregnant females is abortion, either the premature or full-term birth of weak or dead calves. Generally, abortion occurs in the second half of pregnancy, sometimes with placental retention, the consequence of which can be metritis and infertility.
In males, inflammation or atrophy of the testicles, decreased libido and infertility, inflammation of the vesicles and can sometimes cause arthritis.
In horses, it causes lesions characterized by inflammation and abscesses located at the level of the neck or withers, known as mal de la cruz, talpa or testera.
In humans, brucellosis manifests as headache, intermittent fever, profuse sweating, joint pain, swollen testicles, sexual impotence, and infertility.
Diagnosis
Only through laboratory tests is it possible to confirm the diagnosis of Brucellosis; directly with an attempt at bacteriological isolation and / or through tests that confirm the presence of antibodies in serum or milk.
Tests
Bacteriological tests
For these tests, fresh aborted fetuses and / or refrigerated placental samples should be sent to the laboratory.
Serological tests
The most used are: “Rose Bengal” and the “Indirect Elisa” test. For this purpose, 7 to 10 cc of blood should be taken in vacuum tubes, without any preservative or additive, sending them in the shortest time to the laboratory.
Milk tests
They are used to know the collective situation of the herd. The Ring Test or the indirect Elisa test for milk can be performed, which detect the presence of antibodies to brucella in the milk of infected cows. For this purpose, samples are taken from canteens or milk tanks in sterile tubes and sent refrigerated to the laboratory.
Prevention and control
Vaccines play a key role in the control of brucellosis, since they limit its spread and reduce its economic impact.
Vaccinate all your calves between 3 and 8 months of age, with the vaccines authorized by the ICA (Strain 19 or Strain RB 51), preferably under the responsibility of veterinarians.
Perform periodic examinations of your herd, to know the health status of the animals
Separate, identify and slaughter positive animals to avoid the risk of infecting healthy ones.
If you buy animals without knowing their health status, do not reunite them with those of your farm, keep them in a separate paddock, until it is proven by laboratory tests that they are negative for brucellosis.