title: A serological and bacteriological survey of dogs to detect Brucella infection in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province.
abstract: Canine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis is a disease of the reproductive tract that may cause miscarriage in females, infection of the sexual organs in males and infertility in both sexes. The prevalence of brucellosis in dogs is unknown and little has been done to control the disease, except in certain breeds and some commercial dog kennels. In the course of a free neuter program in Lomas de Zamora, Buenos Aires province, prevalence of antibodies to Brucella sp., bacteriological isolation and clinical observations were performed. Of 224 dogs studied, 33 (14.7%) were found positive for the rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), 24 (10.7%) of which were confirmed by IELISA. Of the 33 RSAT positive, 17 (51.5%) blood cultures were done, and B. canis were isolated from 2 cases. Since infected dogs have been shown to remain bacteremic for prolonged periods, our results also suggest a risk of human infections in this area.
authors.affiliation: Zoonosis Center, Municipalidad de Lomas de Zamora, 12 de octubre 1060, (1828) Banfield, Provincia de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ayala
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Efron
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Lucero
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D041002:Brucella canis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000662:veterinary; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D014504:Urban Health
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial