Tuesday 19 September 2023

BRUCELLA CANIS CRISIS

 

A candid conversation with a former RVN, Louise Buckley. 42 minute discussion. 

An article in the Daily Mail says that Brucella canis in the 1960s after breeders in the US reported that their dogs were suffering miscarriages. The Daily Mail write that the cases in the UK is coming from dogs imported by Romania, those Romanian dogs tend to be street dogs. 

"Historically, the vast majority of cases of Brucella canis in the UK have come from imported dogs, mainly from Eastern Europe, where the disease is more common". "Brits catch bacterial infection from dogs for first time as disease is usually confined to canines from Romania takes off in the UK'. 

"Brucella canis is a reportable pathogen in the UK. This means people are legally obliged to report a case to the Government's Animal and Plant health Agency. In practice this is usually done by vets treating suspected Brucella canis cases or labs that carry out testing for the disease. If people don't report it, they risk legal penalties from DEFRA". 

It mainly spreads via dogs reproductive fluids and there is no cure for it. Euthanasia is the only recognised treatment if the dog is suffering from it. 43 cases were found in the first quarter of 2023, more than double the comparable for last year. A further 48 cases have identified as of the end of July, taking the total to 91. 143 tested positive between 2020-2022. 


The Independent "No fatal cases have been reported in humans but possible symptoms can include fever, headaches, weight loss, and in some more severe cases it can cause meningitis, septicaemia and arthritis. Symptoms of the infection can take years to present themselves and may return over several years.". 

Currently, there are three cases in humans in the UK. 

This former English veterinary nurse is whistleblowing, on the fact that if a dog tests positive, vets refuse to treat a dog whether it has any symptoms or not. She says that vets don't tell the clients that if their dog tests positive that they will be euthanised. 




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