that causes placentits and abortion. It is of zoonotic importance Etiology/ Causative agent • It is caused by 1. Brucella abortus : in cattle 2. Brucella melitensis : in goat and sheep 3. Brucella suis : in swine 4. Brucella canis : in dog 5. Brucella ovis : in sheep and goat
It is a gram negative organism
Clinical signs • Abortion in last trimester of gestation • Weak born calf • Placentitis and Retention of fetal membranes • Endometritis • There is grayish white mucoid or mucopurulent discharges form the vagina • Swelling of joint ( hygroma) • Epididymitis ,orchitis and infertility in bull Transmission • It is spread through ingestion of food and water contaminated with discharges of aborted foetus or fetal membranes. • Milk of cow may also spread the infection • It also spread through abraded skin. • Transmission may also occur during copulation. • Occasionally, the organism may enter through inhalation. Diagnosis • On the basis of signs and symptoms • Isolation of organism from aborted fetus, vaginal discharges and placenta. • Rose bengal test and milk ring test to detect the presence of brucella antibodies. • Serological test like ELISA can be done. Rose bengal test
• It is a rapid plate agglutination test.
• In positive cases agglutination occurs and in negative cases there is no agglutination. Treatment • There is no known treatment that can cure Brucellosis completely.
• Penicillin, Tetracycline, streptomycin can
reduce severity to some extent but cannot cure the disease. Control • Test and slaughter. • Isolation of positive testing animals. • Cases of abortion should be handled with care. • Hygienic disposal of utrerine discharge, aborted fetus,fetal membranes • Contaminated surroundings should be disinfected. • Strict quarantine measures should be followed. • Vaccination against brucellosis is the best way to prevent infection.