Brucellosis in Goats

The clinical signs of brucellosis in goats are similar to those in cattle. The disease is prevalent in most countries in which goats are an important food-producing animal, and milk is a common source of brucellosis in humans (known as Malta fever) in many countries. The causal agent is Brucella melitensis, which is found in the Mediterranean region of southern Europe, west and central Asia, Mexico, central and southern America, and Africa. Infection occurs primarily via ingestion of the organisms. The disease causes abortion, typically in the final 2 months of pregnancy. Arthritis and orchitis may also occur. Diagnosis is made by means of tissue culture or PCR testing of milk or an aborted fetus (fetal stomach samples), or by serologic testing (mainly the Rose Bengal and complement fixation). The disease can be eliminated by culling of the herd. In most countries where B melitensis is endemic, vaccination of young (3- to 8-month-old) sheep and goats with the Rev. 1 strain is common. Rev. 1 is an attenuated strain of B melitensis and is administered via SC or intraconjunctival routes. B melitensis is highly pathogenic in humans and can cause abortion in pregnant animals.