Equine brucellosis: current understanding and challenges

It has been a long time since I have thought about Equine Brucellosis. In the US it has gone from rare to very rare in most species but not totally eradicated. Though there are no specifically adapted B. species to horses, they may contract the disease from other species in particular breeding populations. Relevant is the incidence in horses from beyond the US borders and the possible transmission to people. It reminds us to urge extra caution when our animals have any suppurative (puss forming) disease and to protect ourselves when handling such animals.
DrO

Equine brucellosis: current understanding and challenges
J Equine Vet Sci. 2023 Apr 16;104298.
Authors
Elaine Maria Seles Dorneles 1 , Jordana Almeida Santana 2 , Anna Cecília Trolesi Reis Borges Costa 3 , Danilo Guedes Junqueira Júnior 2 , Marcos Bryan Heinemann 4 , Andrey Pereira Lage 5
Affiliations

1 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 3037, Campus Universitário, 37200-900, Brazil. Electronic address: elaine.dorneles@ufla.br.
2 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha da, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.
3 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Lavras, Lavras, Minas Gerais. Caixa Postal 3037, Campus Universitário, 37200-900, Brazil.
4 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Professor Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87. Butantã. São Paulo, São Paulo, 05508-270, Brazil.
5 Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Campus Pampulha da, Av. Pres. Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, 31270-901, Brazil.. Electronic address: alage@vet.ufmg.br.

PMID: 37072072
DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104298

Abstract

Brucellosis in equines, including horses, donkeys, and mules, is characterized by abscesses in tendons, bursae, and joints. Reproductive disorders, which are common in other animals, are rare in both males and females. Joint breeding of horses, cattle, and pigs was found as the main risk factor for equine brucellosis, with the transmission from equines to cattle or among equines possible, although unlikely. Hence, evaluation of the disease in equines can be considered an indirect indicator of the effectiveness of brucellosis control measures employed for other domestic species. Generally, the disease in equines reflects disease status in the sympatric domestic species, mainly cattle. It is important to note that in equines, the disease has no validated diagnostic test, which limits the interpretation of available data. Finally, it is important to mention that equines also represent significant Brucella spp. infection sources for humans. Considering the zoonotic aspect of brucellosis, the significant losses due to infection, and the representativeness of horses, mules, and donkeys in the society, as well as the continuous efforts to control and eradicate the disease in livestock, in this review, we covered the various aspects of brucellosis in equines and compile the sparse and diffuse information on the subject.

Keywords: Brucella abortus; donkeys; horses; mules; poll evil.