O8-2 Follow up investigations on non-infected dogs adopted from the B. canis outbreak

Abstract

Canine brucellosis due to Brucella canis is a contagious disease characterized by abortions in females and epididymitis, testicular atrophy, prostatitis and infertility in males. In April 2020 a B. canis outbreak was notified for the first time in Italy. The infection occurred in a breeding kennel in central Italy that was hosting mostly chihuahua but also other toy breed and involved more than 600 animals. After confirmation of infection, a ban for animal movement and selling was applied. A no-kill strategy was implemented for outbreak management and a procedure was developed to identify B. canis non-infected dogs subsequently given for adoption, this in order to reduce kennel population. This study describes the procedure applied to select B. canis non-infected animals eligible for adoption and report results of follow-up laboratory investigation carried out on adopted animals finalised to exclude any late occurrence of infection. To reduce the dog population hosted in the infected kennel a protocol was developed that combined neutering and B. canis serological testing. Negative animals were transferred to a buffer kennel for a second round serological and bacteriological testing. Negative animals were considered eligible for adoption. Following adoption, a procedure for tracing and monitoring rehomed dogs was developed and is unde implementation. More than 300 animals were identified as B. canis non-infected and rehomed. To date, over 12 months since first adoption, none of the rehomed animals developed infection. Our results suggests that whenever applicable, rehoming of B. canis negative animals should be considered and included in the toolkit for management of B. canis outbreaks.