LOCAL veterinarians have issued a warning as Gunnedah’s first case of Brucellosis (Brucella suis) in dogs was diagnosed last week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Brucellosis, an infectious disease rare in Australia, originates in pigs but can infect a range of animals and be passed on to humans.
Gunnedah Veterinary Hospital veterinarian Trish Robinson said a young male dog was brought to the clinic with a number of signs of Brucellosis.
“The dog had been unwell for a week, it was lethargic, not eating and the owner noticed its testicles were swollen – an obvious sign of the infection,” Ms Robinson said.
“I conducted a blood test which returned positive for Brucellosis – this is the first case Gunnedah has seen.”
Other symptoms include fever, back pain, lameness, vomiting, enlarged lymph nodes and blood in urine.
Under NSW legislation, Brucellosis is a notifiable disease, and was reported to the NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI), who recommend euthanasia.
“There isn’t enough known about Brucellosis in dogs and how long they remain infectious for so the recommendation is euthanasia due to the risk of spreading to other dogs and people,” Ms Robinson said.
“There is no effective treatment or cure for the disease.”
Ms Robinson said the dog was euthanised and all other dogs from the property were tested, returning negative results and would be re-tested in six weeks.
She said the disease was caught from direct contact with feral pigs.
“It is caught from bodily fluids and has also been detected in dogs that have been fed raw feral pig meat,” Ms Robinson said.
“It can also be passed on to pups at birth if the mother is infected.”
NSW DPI senior veterinary officer Amanda Lee said the disease had been detected in dogs that had been pig-hunting in northern NSW, particularly around the Moree area.
The NSW DPI website states Brucellosis is potentially fatal in people, with symptoms including intermittent fever, sweating, lethargy, loss of appetite, headaches and back pain.
Symptoms begin with a flu-like illness and can occur up to six months later, with potential relapses.
Ms Robinson said it was important for pig hunters to keep their dogs and themselves safe from contracting the disease.
“Hygiene is very important and protective clothing when gutting or killing feral pigs,” Ms Robinson said.
“People should cover any cuts or abrasions on themselves or their dogs before pig hunting and don’t feed dead carcasses to animals.
“People need to seek medical advice if they are unwell or veterinary attention for their dog if symptoms present after pig hunting.”