Two South Carolina families were exposed to a rarely detected bacteria, Brucella canis, while caring for a stray pregnant dog READ MORE: Three people catch bacterial infection from dogs , officials confirm By Cassidy Morrison Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com Published: 18:32, 27 June 2024 | Updated: 19:21, 27 June 2024 e-mail 2 View comments Two South Carolina families, five of their pets and eight veterinarians were all exposed to dangerous bacteria after caring for an infected dog and her puppies. A stray dog taken in by a foster family who was soon after adopted into a permanent family was found to be harboring the Brucella canis bacteria , leading to the death of her offspring and infertility.
B canis can be transmitted to people through contaminated canine bodily fluids. The CDC reports the foster family who took in the dog handled her deceased puppies without wearing protective equipment, prompting fears they could have been infected. The bacteria can cause fatigue, premature aging, lameness and back pain in dogs and headaches, muscle aches, chills and fever in people.
In severe human cases, the bacteria can also lead to life-threatening inflammation of the heart, an enlarged spleen or neurological symptoms. However, it often does undetected as some dogs may be asymptomatic and there is no test to detect B canis in people. Brucella canis is a dog disease found mainly in animals imported from Eastern Europe.
It can also infect people (stock image) Brucella canis .
