Two South Carolina families, several of their pets and veterinarians were exposed to dangerous bacteria after caring for an infected dog and her puppies.
A stray dog taken in by a foster family followed by a permanent family was found to harbor the bacteria Brucella canis, leading to the death of her pup and infertility.
The B. canis bacteria can be transmitted to people through contaminated canine bodily fluids. The CDC reports that the foster family that took in the dog handled her aborted puppies without using protective equipment, raising fears that they may have been infected.
According to a CDC exposure warning, no one in either family was found to have contracted the bacteria.
Brucella canis is a canine disease found primarily in animals imported from Eastern Europe. It can also infect people (file image)
Brucella canis can infect both people and dogs but produces different symptoms
Last September, a veterinarian notified the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control that several people had been exposed to the dog harboring the bacteria. The dog was a pregnant stray who had suffered a miscarriage.
The dog had wandered onto the property of a family of four who had their own dog in August. They fostered the dog for two weeks and then the dog was adopted by a family of five that included a baby and a toddler, as well as two dogs and two ferrets.
The dog’s new family took her to the vet when they noticed vaginal discharge and learned she had recently lost her puppies. The vet performed a B canis test, which was positive.
Dogs can contract the bacteria by mating with an infected animal or by coming into contact with infected semen, vaginal or menstrual secretions. If an infected dog is pregnant, she can transmit the bacteria to her puppies in utero, during delivery, or while they drink her milk.
Infection in humans occurs when Brucella canis-infected material comes into contact with people’s mucous membranes, such as the eyes and mouth, or through an open cut in the skin.
People can also contract Brucella canis through other biological material produced by infected dogs, such as urine or feces, although this is much less likely.
According to the CDC: ‘A total of 17 people and five animals were exposed to the dog, including the foster family (and their dog), the adoptive family (and their two dogs and two ferrets), and eight veterinary clinic staff members. . ‘
The agency added that three members of the adoptive family had directly handled aborted materials and puppies without PPE. Because of these high-risk exposures, they received post-exposure preventive medications and were monitored for symptoms for 24 weeks.
Symptoms usually appear three to four weeks after infection.
“All other exposed people and animals, including the foster family and their dog, had lower risk exposures, including collecting samples while wearing PPE, feeding, petting, and walking the dog outside or, in the case of ferrets, casual domestic contact.
‘They were told to monitor the symptoms. At 24 weeks, no exposed person reported symptoms in themselves or their pets.
The dog was humanely euthanized, which is the only recognized treatment if the dog is infected.
However, no human deaths have been reported as a result of B canis infection. The vast majority of infections are mild and can be treated with antibiotics. Still, serious infections of the lining of the heart, bones, brain tissue, and blood have been reported.