A rare bacteria that may cause infertility and reproductive issues in dogs has begun spreading to humans within the U.K. Three people have reportedly been infected with Brucella Canis for the primary time within the country.

Health officials issued a warning as they saw a rise within the variety of reports of Brucella Canis in dogs. “Now we have had spread of a case within the U.K. to a different dog within the U.K. It is thru breeding in kennels. There shouldn’t be quite a bit — there may be very little. But that’s latest for us,” Dr. Christine Middlemiss, chief veterinary officer on the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs within the U.K., told the Telegraph.

Nevertheless, the situation shouldn’t be yet considered endemic, and there isn’t a report of human-to-human spread of the disease. “The probability of infection could be considered very low for the final U.K. population,” the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said in a news release.

What Is Brucella Canis?

It’s the bacteria answerable for causing the infectious disease Brucellosis, which affects various animals including sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and dogs.

The infection-causing bacteria gets transmitted to humans mostly by consuming contaminated dairy products. It will probably also enter the human body through wounds while the person is in touch with infected animals or through direct inhalation.

Employees working at slaughterhouses and meat-packing units, in addition to those that handle the bacteria in laboratories, are said to be at higher risk.

Symptoms of Brucellosis

Infected dogs can show signs similar to swollen or shrunken testicles, reduced fertility, anorexia, weight reduction, pain, lameness, impaired movement, swollen lymph nodes and muscle weakness.

When humans get infected with Brucella Canis, they will suffer from fever, malaise, fatigue, headache, muscular and joint aches, sweats and anorexia. Some patients might also exhibit symptoms similar to chronic fatigue, recurrent fever, arthritis and swelling of the center, liver or testicles.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Brucellosis diagnosis is generally done through tests that detect bacteria in body fluids or antibodies against the bacteria.

Upon diagnosis, doctors typically prescribe antibiotics for treatment. The recovery time will depend on the severity of the illness. Death from the disease is rare, occurring only in 2% of the cases.

Published by Medicaldaily.com