Attempts to develop a suitable vaccine have been unsuccessful because it would need to induce immunity but not provoke serological responses that interfere with the diagnosis. Prevention of infection and elimination of infected dogs should be the principal control strategy in kennels.

Prevention requires yearly testing of all breeding stock and testing of all dogs being introduced into a kennel, because only proven non-infected dogs should be bred. Testing should commence at least 3 weeks prior to expected estrus to allow for further testing to ascertain whether a seropositive test indicates actual infection or a false-positive result. Two negative tests done at 4-6 week intervals should be required for all dogs to be introduced into breeding colonies. If a bitch aborts, assume infection until it is proven otherwise. Bitches who abort should be kept isolated and the premises must be disinfected. If a male dog loses interest in mating, or develops testicular abnormalities and poor fertility, it should be screened for brucellosis.

Treatment is not recommended for dogs in breeding kennels, or where infected dogs cannot be isolated and accurately monitored following antibiotic therapy. Treatment is expensive and cures are difficult to achieve, especially in chronically infected males. Repeated blood cultures and serologic monitoring are required for at least 3 post-treatment months before a dog can be declared negative. Recrudescence of the infection is common after the cessation of antibiotic treatment. Successfully treated males frequently remain sterile because of irreversible damage to the testes and epididymides. Spaying or castration may reduce the risk of transmission from infected dogs.

The most successful and practical treatment is administered during the first 3 months of infection, and uses a combination of a tetracycline (25 mg/kg orally TID) given for 4 weeks, along with gentamycin (2.2 mg/kg IM TID) given on the first and last weeks of the 4-week treatment. More than 80% cure rates have been achieved in kennels where early cases are promptly treated. A cure is more difficult to achieve in chronic infections.

Despite use of combined antibiotic therapy, elimination of infected dogs is the only proven method of eradication of B. canis from an infected kennel.

Management of infected kennels/dogs is time consuming and expensive. Prevention is essential to minimize the risk of infection in a breeding kennel. Infected kennels should be quarantined, as failure to do so can lead to widespread transmission of B. canis infection.

Kennel dogs

• Positive dogs—isolate and euthanize all infected dogs.
• Test sera from all dogs: IFA/RSAT/AGID tests plus blood cultures of all suspicious animals.
• Test dogs monthly for 3 months until colony is negative on 2 successive tests.

Pet dogs—choices difficult

• Isolate dogs.
• Spay or castrate + treatment.
• Treatment success greater in early infections.
• Follow-up serology for 3 months post-treatment.

References: Johnson and Walker. Compend Cont Educ Pract Vet 14:763-772, 1992; Mateu de Antonio et al, Am J Vet Res 1993; 54:1043-1046, 1993; Baldi et al, Vet Microbiol 41:127-134, 1994; adapted from Shin and Carmichael Int Vet Inform Serv, Nov. 1999; A0101.1199. 1999.