Disease factsheet: Brucellosis (Brucella abortus)
If you suspect signs of any notifiable disease, you must immediately notify a Defra Divisional Veterinary Manager.- Brucellosis Q&A - five key points.
Definition
Brucellosis of cattle, known as "contagious abortion", is caused by infection with the bacterium Brucella abortus, which can also cause a disease of humans known as "undulant fever". Brucellosis of cattle is a notifiable disease which was eradicated from cattle in Great Britain in 1979, but has been reintroduced on several occasions by imported cattle. In 2003, brucellosis was confirmed in four cattle herds in Scotland and most recently in March 2004 it was confirmed in a beef suckler herd in Cornwall.
Animals affected
Brucella abortus infects cattle and humans. Other species of the genus Brucella can infect other mammals, for example Brucella melitensis infects sheep and goats and can cause a disease in humans known as "malta fever", Brucella suis infects pigs. The laboratory isolation of any species of the genus Brucella must be reported (The Zoonoses Order 1989).
Clinical signs
Brucellosis infection of cattle causes abortion or premature calving of recently infected animals; the foetus, placenta and uterine fluid contain large quantaties of Brucella abortus bacteria which can infect other cattle coming into contact with an infected animal around the time of calving. The organism continues to be excreted in the milk; in the past humans were frequently infected through drinking unpasteurised milk. Breeding bulls which are infected, can transmit the disease to cows at the time of service by infected semen.
Post-mortem appearance
Brucellosis of cattle produces no characteristic post mortem signs. Diagnosis is by laboratory testing of blood or milk samples and by laboratory culture of Brucella abortus from the placenta, vaginal discharge or the milk of infected cows.
Precautions
Since brucellosis of cattle is still present in many countries including Ireland and several other countries of the European Union, prevention of brucellosis in Great Britain relies on thorough checks of imported cattle and continuing surveillance which is based on monthly testing of bulk milk samples from dairy herds and investigation of cattle abortions.
Any cattle abortion or premature calving must be reported to the Divisional Veterinary Manager (DVM) or the duty Veterinary Officer (VO) at the Divisional Animal Health Office of Defra, so that an abortion enquiry to test for brucellosis can be carried out when necessary. It is good herd management practice for the owners of imported cattle to inform the DVM or duty VO of the date that an imported female calves for the first time in Great Britain, so that a post calving check test can be arranged.
Treatment
Treatment for brucellosis of cattle is not permitted; all infected cattle and contacts which have been exposed to infection must be slaughtered.
Surveillance
As from April 2007, beef cattle will no longer be routinely blood sampled every two years and tested for brucellosis. Other surveillance and risk management measures, including port-import check tests, abortion investigations and bulk milk testing will be maintained.
- Future of Brucellosis, EBL and Warble Fly surveillance.
- Q&A: Review of Brucellosis, Enzootic Bovine Leucosis and Warble Fly Surveillance.
Compensation
From 1 February 2006 a new cattle compensation system was introduced for England which also covers brucellosis and Enzootic Bovine Leukosis (EBL) compensation. Scotland and Wales will continue to use the market prices to calculate the level of compensation for brucellosis until further notice. Details of the relevant compensations will be published at the start of each month on the following websites:
- England - Link to Defra News Releases.
- Scotland - Link to Scottish Executive website.
- Wales - Link to Welsh Assembly Government website.
Related Pages
- Defra's Brucellosis factsheet for
farmers
(20 KB) - Summary
profile
(20 KB)
- Full
profile
(90 KB)
- Brucellosis Q&A - five key points
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Page last reviewed: 20 December 2007
Page last modified:
December 20, 2007