• Stray2Me Rescue has been screening all dogs traveling to the UK for Brucella canis (B. canis) since early 2021 when we first became aware of it as an emerging concern. We review our testing protocols regularly and keep up-to-date with any changes to current legislation regarding the importation of foreign rescue animals, including testing requirements. Currently DEFRA advise pre-import testing for B. canis, but it is not mandatory. Of course, this advice is subject to change.

    Recently, there has been some concern expressed on various social media platforms because B. canis is a zoonotic disease, which means it can be passed from dog to human. There is very little reliable research available at present to suggest how easily B. canis passes from dogs to dogs and from dogs to humans. If you have adopted from us, or are considering adopting from us, and you have any concerns at all about B. canis, and the possible impact, please read the information below. Our aim is to provide you with the facts as we understand them in a balanced way, to enable you to make an informed decision. The Trustees are also happy to discuss with you any concerns you may have.

General statement on Stray2Me’s Brucella Canis testing strategy

  • Brucella canis (B. canis) is a bacterium which can infect both dogs and humans and can be passed by dogs to humans. There is no canine vaccine and no cure for dogs and, while not currently recommended by APHA (2021a), dogs can be treated but it is a lengthy, potentially costly route of disease management and there are no guarantees that the infection can be fully gone. According to the WHO (2020) and the NHS (2020), while not specific to B. canis, treatment of human brucellosis infections is done using a long course of antibiotics. The main consequence for dogs is reproductive failure, while an infected human may suffer from fever, chills, malaise, enlargement of the lymph nodes and enlargement of the spleen. (Hensel, Negron & Arenas-Gamboa, 2018).

    As part of our due diligence as a responsible animal rescue, we ask that all Romanian rescues we find homes for in the UK are tested for a variety of endemic and high-risk diseases, including B. canis prior to traveling.The test for B. canis run as standard by the vets in Romania is a rapid antibody test, which has a high sensitivity and specificity (over 90%). Sensitivity is the ability of the test to correctly identify a patient WITH the disease and specificity is the ability of the test to correctly identify a patient WITHOUT the disease (Cochrane UK, 2019). This is coupled with a B.canis SAT test (Serum Agglutination Test) or a PCR test (Polymerase chain reaction) where a SAT is not available to a particular vet.

    For added peace of mind the drawing of the blood is videod, as is the test result. The blood for the SAT test is sent to a laboratory in Germany to be processed, whilst the PCR is performed at a laboratory in Bucharest. The results are taken into account, together with a clinical examination of the rescue and with its known clinical history, and noted in the rescue’s passport before travel. We send you the video of the test, which we encourage you to share with your vet.

    Some vets in the UK have started asking that foreign rescue dogs are tested for B. canis prior to registering them or being treated at their practice, and we have had reports of this being applied to emergency veterinary cases as well. We also understand from some of our adopters that they have been advised by vet practices of the fact that, should a dog test positive for B.canis, they will be refused treatment and they will be advised to euthanise the dog. Euthanasia is NOT MANDATORY, nor is it mandatory to have the test. However, your vet may refuse to treat your dog unless you do agree to test. You are perfectly at liberty to change to a different vet who may have a different approach. If you are an existing adopter please contact us via email or on your Messenger chat or WhatsApp group and we can advise you.

    If you decide to have the test and your dog tests positive, it is our understanding from the APHA Summary Information Sheet on Brucella canis that you can make a choice to have the dog treated, rather than euthanised (APHA, 2021b). Therefore, in absence of clear mandatory evidence of euthanasia being enforced by UK authorities, you cannot be forced to have your dog euthanised should you not wish to do so. While your vet may advise that euthanasia is the most effective way of stopping any potential future transmission of infection by the positive dog, they should also discuss an alternative option of disease management with you.

    If you choose to treat the positive dog, B canis may be managed using antibiotics as part of a treatment protocol, but it cannot be fully cured, and potential relapses may occur. B. canis is also a notifiable disease and DEFRA will be informed by your vet in case of a positive test result. Your vet and local public health authority may advise you to follow a series of life-long control measures, including repeat testing, avoiding contact with other dogs and humans and practicing good hygiene (APHA, 2021b).

    The most prevalent way of B canis spreading between dogs is through reproduction or sexual activity; a far less common way of the disease passing from an infected dog to an uninfected dog is through urine, saliva or blood. At present there is limited data available on dog to dog transmission other than through reproductive means, currently the risk being considered low. Some vets are advising that the B canis positive dog should be isolated if euthanasia is not chosen, but the most recent Human Animal Infections and Risk Surveillance group (HAIRS) report no longer suggests isolating a positive dog (HAIRS 18th September 2023), nor does the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) report of 26th September 2023.

    Since reproduction or sexual activity is the highest risk category, Stray2Me Rescue aim to sterilise all dogs prior to travel, unless it is contrary to veterinary advice due to health or age.

    If you are an existing adopter and you have any concerns, please contact us through your Messenger chats or WhatsApp group and we will be happy to advise you on your rights and responsibilities.

    If you are looking to adopt a Romanian Rescue, we would strongly advise that you speak to your vet or several vets in your local area about your intention, and discuss B. canis testing with them before applying to, or before agreeing to adopt a Romanian Rescue. We will provide you with an email outlining our testing procedure that you can send to your vet. We will need to be assured that your vet is willing to treat a Romanian rescue dog and will continue to offer the full range of services should your dog ever test positive in the future. We can also provide you with a list of vets in your area who are happy to accept and treat rescues from Romania.

Stray2Me’s testing strategy and how our testing strategy was chosen

  • At the time of writing this statement (June 2023), there is no mandatory legal testing requirement for B.canis set for dogs entering the UK (either prior to or post import). However, as part of our due diligence as a responsible animal rescue, and in line with the advice given by APHA (2021a) on testing foreign rescue dogs, we ask that all Romanian rescues we find homes for in the UK are tested for a variety of endemic and high-risk diseases, including B. canis.

    The test run as standard by the vets in Romania is a rapid antibody test, or, more scientifically, achromatographic immunoassay for the qualitative detection of antibodies against canine brucellosis in canine serum, plasma or whole blood. To run this test, vets usually draw blood from the animal and then place a few drops on the test cassette. The results are visible within a matter of minutes, similar to a COVID rapid test – one control line and no test line is indicative of a negative result, and two lines (one control and one test line) is indicative of a positive result.
    We have chosen this form of testing as it is fast and widely available to most Romanian vets.  It has a high sensitivity and specificity (eg. The Bionote rapid C.Brucella test has a sensitivity and specificity of over 90% according to the manufacturer’s brochure and instructions of use, available at: https://www.bionote.co.kr/en/product/rapid/view.html?idx=62&srh_cate=1&curpage=5&search_txt=) and the results are taken into account together with a clinical examination of the rescue and with its known clinical history. Running serological tests is also in line with the APHA (2021a) guidance, which states that “The GB National Brucella Reference Laboratory at Animal & Plant Health Agency, Weybridge recommends serological testing in most cases in order to obtain results with the most reliable sensitivity. This would also apply for any pre-import testing”.

    UPDATE AUGUST 2024
    Of those vets in the UK who are choosing to run their own B.canis tests, many are choosing to use the SAT (IgM antibodies, indicating current infection) and iElisa (IgG antibodies, indicating previous exposure), in combination. This involves sending a blood sample to the APHA laboratory in Weybridge. Unfortunately we have not been able to find a reliable way to send blood from Romania to the UK (although we are keeping this under review). In the absence of being able to secure the APHA tests, we are combining the rapid antibody test with either a SAT (Serum Agglutination Test) or, if this is unavailable to a particular vet, then a PCR (Polymerase chain reaction).

    Given the way in which B. canis can be transmitted to other animals and humans, it is understandable that vets would request that testing occurs in order to protect the welfare of anyone attending their practice. However, it is believed by some vets that the low risk to veterinary staff can be mitigated by adopting good biosecurity measures and the wearing of appropriate PPE.

    We would welcome that you share this page with your vet to show them what they can expect from us as a rescue, and ask for their input as to whether or not our procedure is enough evidence to show that the animal has tested negative for B. canis and whether it can be registered at the practice with no further tests needed and at no additional cost to you as an adopter. The vet may:

    Accept our test result and agree to register the rescue with them with no further tests needed;

    Decide that another test may be needed prior to the rescue being registered with them, and either ask for this to be done in Romania (if available), or be done at their practice upon the rescue’s arrival in the UK. We are unable to cover this as part of our standard adoption donation, and we would ask that any such test be covered by yourself. Your vet is best placed to advise on the cost of the tests in the UK. Currently the APHA combined SAT and iElisa charge is £31.50, but each individual vet may charge more to account for the consultation, enhanced PPE, packaging etcetera.
     
    For more details on how B. canis is transmitted and UK Public Health Opinion please see below.

Transmission

  • Dogs become infected with B. canis predominantly through ingestion, inhalation, or contact with aborted fetuses or placenta, vaginal secretions, or semen. Infected dogs may shed low concentrations of bacteria in either seminal fluid or vaginal secretions, or saliva, nasal secretions and urine (Hensel, Negron & Arenas-Gamboa, 2018). Other routes of transmission include in utero, broken skin, blood transfusions, faeces, milk, and objects prone to carry the infection further such as contaminated syringes and artificial insemination equipment (Cosford, 2018). Due to the bacteria persisting in the prostate and lymphoid tissues, an infected dog may still be able to transmit the infection even if it has been spayed/neutered (Hensel, Negron & Arenas-Gamboa, 2018).

    The major route of B. canis transmission from dogs to humans is through secretions (such as those from the animal’s eyes, mouth, nose and genital area) (Cosford, 2018). While laboratory personnel, veterinarians, and animal caretakers are at increased risk for exposure to B. canis,  Hensel, Negron & Arenas-Gamboa (2018) report that several documented cases highlight pet ownership as a likely risk factor leading to infection in healthy persons, and that children and immunosuppressed people might be at higher risk for acquiring the disease. Thus, dog owners could also come into contact with B. canis through normal social and grooming activities.


UK public health opinion