Brucellosis!..

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jc812

jc812

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  1. Optometry Student
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I'm just curious. (I don't know if this topic is allowed in the forums, so.. sorry mods!)

My mom was talking about dogs causing infertility in women. I told her there was NO WAY, but looked it up on google (self education!).

Turns out dogs have mycoplasma and can transmit brucella/brucellosis. Both of these have to do with infertility/abortion issues and are contagious to humans.

Does this mean that my mom is right? Being "too close" to your pet dog may possibly cause infertility?
 
Human contagion is quite rare with Brucella. B. canis also doesn't affect humans the same way it does dogs - human exposure and infection results in easily treated, flu/achy/cold type feelings. No big deal. HUGE deal for the dog, unfortunately. Never rely on google 😉 There's a lot of hype out there.

And with regards to myco, since up to 50% of dogs and 75% bitches have mycoplasma in their urinary tract.....and human fertility seems to be doing fine, again....it's a lot of alarmist nonsense.
 
jc812 said:
Does this mean that my mom is right? Being "too close" to your pet dog may possibly cause infertility?
Click to expand...

It is also possible an airplane will crash into your living space. Or you will be hit by a bus while driving today.

Just not very probable. Or even remotely likely once you understand the variables involved. Risk assessment and statistical analysis is a wonderful thing!!

So is a cool head and common sense. Think, then act. (or open your mouth, etc.). 🙂
 
jc812 said:
I'm just curious. (I don't know if this topic is allowed in the forums, so.. sorry mods!)

My mom was talking about dogs causing infertility in women. I told her there was NO WAY, but looked it up on google (self education!).

Turns out dogs have mycoplasma and can transmit brucella/brucellosis. Both of these have to do with infertility/abortion issues and are contagious to humans.

Does this mean that my mom is right? Being "too close" to your pet dog may possibly cause infertility?
Click to expand...


I'm actually a Brucella researcher and Brucella canis does not cause disease in humans... so no worries 🙂
 
People are relatively resistant to B canis infection and the disease is usually fairly mild compared to other Brucella spp. But that there dozens of published cases of human infections in the literature.

Lucero NE, et al. Diagnosis of human brucellosis caused by Brucella canis. J Med Microbiol. 2005 May;54(Pt 5):457-61.

Ying W, et al. Brucella canis endocarditis: case report. Clin Infect Dis. 1999 Dec;29(6):1593-4.

Tosi MF, Nelson TJ. Brucella canis infection in a 17-month-old child successfully treated with moxalactam. J Pediatr. 1982 Nov;101(5):725-7.
 
Bill59 said:
People are relatively resistant to B canis infection and the disease is usually fairly mild compared to other Brucella spp. But that there dozens of published cases of human infections in the literature.

Lucero NE, et al. Diagnosis of human brucellosis caused by Brucella canis. J Med Microbiol. 2005 May;54(Pt 5):457-61.

Ying W, et al. Brucella canis endocarditis: case report. Clin Infect Dis. 1999 Dec;29(6):1593-4.

Tosi MF, Nelson TJ. Brucella canis infection in a 17-month-old child successfully treated with moxalactam. J Pediatr. 1982 Nov;101(5):725-7.
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You're a right there have been reports in the literature, though I am convinced that in most of cases if not all, B. canis was not the agent. This is based on data from another Brucella group presented at a meeting recently that showed B. canis (ST20 & ST21) cannot establish it's replicative niche in Human THP-1 cells.

I would be willing to bet if the organisms were isolated in these cases they would be sequenced as B. suis biovar (probably 1)
 
What happens in vitro does not necessarily equal what happens in vivo
 
Habibti said:
What happens in vitro does not necessarily equal what happens in vivo
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Amen! Damn organisms never DO read the literature, do they?
 
elkbrucellaguy said:
...Brucella canis does not cause disease in humans... so no worries 🙂
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There is at least one veterinarian on VIN who would disagree with you based on their personal experience.

Once you are eligible for membership (i.e., start classes and sign up for your free student account from a .edu account), you should look him/her up.
 
Sounds to me like elkbrucellaguy is disputing the specifics of genetic classification of microorganisms, rather than the fact that people were infected with something. With genetic sequencing, classifiation has become much more complicated and much more flexible, all at once!

can dogs be infected with B. suis?
 
Bacteriologists like to randomly change the name of their organisms on a routine basis to confuse veterinarians and vet students. But since they spend all day smelling agar and trying not to contract some bizarre infection, you have to let them have a little fun.
 
😀 😀 😀

that'll be me soon. in fact, that's a perfect description of what I'll be doing!!! hahahaha 😀
 
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