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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Infectious Bacterial Diseases Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #75844
Title: EXPERIMENTAL ORAL INFECTION OF BEAGLE DOGS WITH THE VACCINE BRUCELLA ABORTUS STRAIN RB51

Author
item Palmer, Mitchell
item CHEVILLE, NORMAN - IOWA STATE UNIV, AMES
item MARTIN, BARBARA - USDA/APHIS/NVSL

Submitted to: Brucellosis Research National Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/8/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Placental and fetal infection may occur in cattle and bison vaccinated with the newly approved brucellosis vaccine, B. abortus strain RB51 (RB51). A model was developed to determine the potential for placentitis, infection, and shedding in canids which may ingest RB51-infected placental membranes. Male(n=3),nonpregnant(n=3) and pregnant female(n=4) Beagles were fed 10*12 CFU RB51. Another group of pregnant females (n=5) received 7.5x10*5 CFU RB51 IV. Appropriate controls received sterile saline. Urine and feces were collected at multiple time points for bacterial culture. Non-pregnant bitches and males were examined 7 wks postinoculation while pregnant bitches were examined at full term. Lesions were not seen in nonpregnant bitches; however, placentitis with accompanying placental and fetal infection were seen in 1/3 orally infected pregnant bitches and 1/5 IV infected bitches. RB51 was recovered from all orally infected dogs in oropharyngeal lymph nodes and 3/10 spleens. All IV infected dogs had RB51 in liver and 4/5 had RB51 in spleen. At no time was RB51 recovered from urine or feces. Thus, ingestion of RB51 can result in infection and placentitis with the potential of spread to other hosts at whelping. The potential for spread in urine or feces, however, is low.