A

TERM PAPER

ON
SHEEP AND GOAT (APT 323)

TOPIC:
BRUCELLOSIS IN GOAT

WRITTEN BY
EKECHI MICHAEL NGELE
FCAI/APT/HND/2019/2020/0241

SUBMITTED TO
MR. UZOMA
(COURSE LECTURER)

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIRMENTS FOR THE

AWARD OF HIGHER NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ANIMAL
PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY, FEDERAL COLLEGE OF
AGRICULTURE ISHIAGU, EBONYI STATE.

MARCH, 2021

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 DEDICATION
To God Almighty, I dedicate this term paper to.

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 ACKNOWLEGEMENT
I sincerely appreciate wonderful God for the encouragement. My
special thanks also go to my sweet and lovely mother who has always
supported me both motherly and financially.

I will like to record my sincere thanks to my course lecturer who

has always been impacting great knowledge in me and giving me
advice. I also want to send my special thanks to the student’s Federal
College of Agriculture Ishiagu.

I wish to the entire students of Animal Production Technology in

Federal College of Agriculture Ishiagu for their various encouragements.

They have all left behind a legacy for which they will be remembered

for as long as this research work lasts.

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 TABLE OF CONTENTS

DEDICATION..........................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEGEMENT..........................................................................................iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS.........................................................................................iv
CHAPTER ONE........................................................................................................1
INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................1
CHAPTER TWO.......................................................................................................3
BRUCELLOSIS IN GOAT.......................................................................................3
i. Etiology............................................................................................................4
ii. Transmission....................................................................................................4
iii. Clinical signs....................................................................................................6
iv. Treatment and Control:....................................................................................7
CHAPTER THREE.................................................................................................10
CONCLUSION.......................................................................................................10
REFERENCES........................................................................................................11

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 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease caused by various Brucella species, which mainly

infect cattle, swine, goats, sheep and dogs. Humans generally acquire the disease

through direct contact with infected animals, by eating or drinking contaminated

animal products or by inhaling airborne agents. Most cases are caused by ingesting

unpasteurized milk or cheese from infected goats or sheep.

Brucellosis is one of the most widespread zoonoses transmitted by animals and in

endemic areas, human brucellosis has serious public health consequences.

Expansion of animal industries and urbanization, and the lack of hygienic

measures in animal husbandry and in food handling, partly account for brucellosis

remaining a public health hazard.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacterial genus Brucella. The

bacteria are transmitted from animals to humans by ingestion through infected food

products, direct contact with an infected animal, or inhalation of aerosols. The

disease is an old one that has been known by various names, including

Mediterranean fever, Malta fever, gastric remittent fever, and undulant fever.

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Humans are accidental hosts, but brucellosis continues to be a major public health

concern worldwide and is the most common zoonotic infection.

Brucella organisms, which are small aerobic intracellular coccobacilli, localize in

the reproductive organs of host animals, causing abortions and sterility. They are

shed in large numbers in the animal’s urine, milk, placental fluid, and other fluids.

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 CHAPTER TWO

BRUCELLOSIS IN GOAT

The signs of brucellosis in goats are similar to those in cattle. The disease is

prevalent in most countries where goats are a significant part of the animal

industry, and milk is a common source of human brucellosis in many countries.

The causal agent is Brucella melitensis. Infection occurs primarily through

ingestion of the organisms. The disease causes abortion at approximately the fourth

month of pregnancy. Arthritis and orchitis may occur. Diagnosis is made by

bacteriologic examination of milk or an aborted fetus or by serum agglutination

tests. The disease can be eliminated by slaughter of the herd. In most countries

where B melitensis is endemic, vaccination with the Rev. 1 strain is common. Rev.

1 is an attenuated strain of B melitensis and is administered by SC or

intraconjunctival routes. B melitensis is highly pathogenic for people.

This disease results from infection by various species of Brucella. Six species

occur in humans and animals. B.melitensis is the most important species in sheep

and goats, and B. ovis causes infertility in rams.

Brucellosis is found worldwide but it is well controlled in most developed

countries. The disease is still common in Africa, the Middle East, Central and

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Southeast Asia, South America and some Mediterranean countries. B. melitensis is

rare in the United States, but B. ovis is seen in Australia, New Zealand and many

other sheep-raising regions, including the United States.

Brucellosis is spread among animals by contact with the placenta, fetus, fetal

fluids, and vaginal discharges from infected animals. Animals are infectious after

either an abortion or full term birth. The organism is found in blood, urine, milk,

and semen; it can be shed in milk and semen (which can be prolonged or lifelong).

Brucella can be spread on equipment, clothing, etc. In conditions of high humidity,

low temperatures and no sunlight, these organisms can live for several months in

water, aborted fetuses, manure, wool, hay, equipment and clothes. The Brucella

organism is killed by several hours of exposure to direct sunlight.

i. Etiology

Brucellosis is caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella and is characterized by

abortion, retained placenta, and to a lesser extent, orchitis and infection of the

accessory sex glands in males. The disease is prevalent in most countries of the

world.

ii. Transmission

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In goats, B. melitensis is usually transmitted by contact with the placenta, fetus,

fetal fluids and vaginal discharges from infected animals. Small ruminants are

infectious after either abortion or full-term parturition. Goats usually shed B.

melitensis in vaginal discharges for at least 2 to 3 months, but shedding usually

ends within three weeks in sheep. This organism can also be found in the milk and

semen; shedding in milk and semen can be prolonged or lifelong, particularly in

goats. Kids and lambs that nurse from infected dams may shed B. melitensis in the

feces.

Most animals become infected by ingestion or through the mucous membranes of

the oropharynx, upper respiratory tract and conjunctiva, but Brucella can also be

transmitted through broken skin. Although the mammary gland is usually

colonized during the course of an infection, it can also be infected by direct

contact, with subsequent shedding of the organisms in the milk. In utero infections

also occur. Transmission during breeding is possible, but seems to be uncommon

during natural mating. B. melitensis can be spread on fomites, and could be

disseminated mechanically by carnivores that carry away infected material

(Moreno et al., 2002).

In conditions of high humidity, low temperatures and no sunlight, Brucella can

remain viable for several months in water, aborted fetuses, manure, wool, hay,

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equipment and clothes. Brucella species can withstand drying, particularly when

organic material is present, and can survive in dust and soil. Survival is longer

when the temperature is low, particularly when it is below freezing. Cattle and

other species can be infected with B. melitensis after contact with infected sheep

and goats (Tibary et al., 2006). It has not been established whether cattle can

maintain this species indefinitely in the absence of contact with small ruminants.

iii. Clinical signs

The predominant symptoms in naturally infected goats are abortions, stillbirths and

the birth of weak offspring. Animals that abort may retain the placenta. Goats

usually abort only once, but reinvasion of the uterus and shedding of organisms

can occur during subsequent pregnancies (Ashraf et al., 2015). Some infected

animals carry the pregnancy to term, but shed the organism. Milk yield is

significantly reduced in animals that abort, as well as in animals whose udder

becomes infected after a normal birth. However, clinical signs of mastitis are

uncommon. Acute orchitis and epididymitis can occur in males, and may result in

infertility. Arthritis is seen occasionally in both sexes (Nicoletti, 2013). Many non-

pregnant goats remain asymptomatic. B. melitensis has also been associated with

abortions in cattle, and abortions, orchitis and epididymitis in camels. In dogs,

infection with B. melitensis is often asymptomatic, and rapid elimination of this

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organism has been reported. However, abortion, orchitis and epididymitis, and

other symptoms of canine Brucellosis can also occur (Dénes and Glávits, 1994).

Communicability: Brucellosis is contagious to humans. Bacteria are present in

milk, placenta, fetal fluids, fetus, vaginal discharges, semen, and urine. Ruminants

and other animals can shed bacteria long-term or lifelong.

Diagnosis: By blood tests and culture of tissues listed above.

iv. Treatment and Control:

Treatment: There is no practical treatment that is successful. Long-term antibiotic

treatment can eliminate B. ovis infections in valuable rams but the fertility may

remain poor.

Brucellosis typically causes flu-like symptoms, including fever, weakness, malaise

and weight loss. However, the disease may present in many atypical forms. In

many patients the symptoms are mild and, therefore, the diagnosis may not be

considered. The incubation period of the disease can be highly variable, ranging

from 1 week to 2 months, but usually 2–4 weeks.

Treatment options include doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 45 days, plus

streptomycin 1 g daily for 15 days. The main alternative therapy is doxycycline at

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100 mg, twice a day for 45 days, plus rifampicin at 15mg/kg/day (600-900mg) for

45 days. Experience suggests that streptomycin may be substituted with gentamicin

5mg/kg/daily for 7–10 days, but no study directly comparing the two regimes is

currently available. The optimal treatment for pregnant women, neonates and

children under 8 is not yet determined; for children, options include

trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (co-trimoxazole) combined with an

aminoglycoside (streptomycin, gentamycin) or rifampicin.

Control: B. melitensis is most likely to be introduced into a herd by an infected

animal. Semen could also be a source of infection. This organism can be eradicated

from a herd by test and slaughter procedures, or by depopulation. In areas where B.

melitensis is not endemic, infected herds are usually quarantined and the animals

are euthanized. Because dogs can be infected, some countries require that shepherd

dogs also be euthanized, or treated with antibiotics and castrated, when flocks are

depopulated (Sauret and Vilissova, 2002). Any area exposed to infected animals

and their discharges should be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Infections in

other species are generally prevented by controlling B. melitensis in sheep and

goats.

The B. melitensis Rev1 vaccine is used to control this disease in infected areas.

Rev 1 can cause abortions in pregnant animals (Blasco, 1997). This vaccine also

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interferes with serological tests, particularly when it is injected subcutaneously, but

conjunctival administration to lambs and kids between the ages of 3 and 6 months

minimizes this problem.

Brucella species are readily killed by most commonly available disinfectants

including hypochlorite solutions, 70% ethanol, isopropanol, iodophores, phenolic

disinfectants, formaldehyde, glutaraldehyde and xylene; however, organic matter

and low temperatures decrease the efficacy of disinfectants. Brucella on

contaminated surfaces gets destroyed by disinfectants that include the following

components like 2.5% sodium hypochlorite, 2-3% caustic soda, 20% freshly slaked

lime suspension, or 2% formaldehyde solution (all tested for one hour). Ethanol,

isopropanol, iodophores, substituted phenols or diluted hypochlorite solutions can

be used on contaminated skin. Alkyl quaternary ammonium compounds are not

recommended for this purpose (Adel et al., 2015). Autoclaving [moist heat of

121°C for at least 15 minutes] can be used to destroy Brucella species on

contaminated equipment. These organisms can also be inactivated by dry heat

[160-170°C for at least 1 hour]. Boiling for 10 minutes is usually effective for

liquids. Xylene (1ml/liter) and Calcium cyanamide (20 kg/m3) are reported to

decontaminate liquid manure after 2 to 4 weeks. Brucella species can also be

inactivated by gamma irradiation (e.g. in colostrum) and pasteurization (Yantorno

et al., 1978). 

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 CHAPTER THREE

CONCLUSION

Brucellosis has been eradicated from various developed countries but still it

remains a important veterinary public health problem in most of the developing

world as abortions and infertility in herds result in severe economic loss.

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that can pass from animals to humans. The

Brucella bacteria responsible can spread to people through contact with infected

animals, the consumption of undercooked meat, or the consumption of

unpasteurized dairy products.

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 REFERENCES
Ashraf M A, Ahmed K A, Torad F A and Marouf S A. 2015. Ultrasonographic and
histopathological findings in rams with epididymo-orchitis caused by
Brucella melitensis. Pakistan Veterinary Journal 35(4): 456-460.

Capasso L (2002). "Bacteria in two-millennia-old cheese, and related epizoonoses

in Roman populations". The Journal of Infection. 45 (2): 122–7.
doi:10.1053/jinf.2002.0996. PMID 12217720. – re high rate of brucellosis
in humans in ancient Pompeii

Dénes B and R Glávits. 1994. Bacteriologically confirmed cases of ovine

epididymo-orchitis caused by Brucella ovis in Sub-Carpathia. Acta
Veterinaria Hungarica 42: 25-33.

Moreno E, Cloeckaert A, Moriyo´n I. 2002. Brucella evolution and taxonomy.

Veterinary Microbiology 90: 209–227.

Nicoletti P. 2013. Brucellosis in cattle. In Merck Veterinary Manual.

www.merckvetmanual.com

Sauret J M and Vilissova N. 2002. Human Brucellosis. Journal of American Board

of Farm Practice 15: 401-406.

Tibary A, Fite C, Anouassi A, Sghiri A. 2006. Infectious causes of reproductive

loss in camelids. Theriogenology 66: 633- 647.

Wyatt HV (2014). "How did Sir David Bruce forget Zammit and his goats   ?"
(PDF). Journal of Maltese History. Malta: Department of History,
University of Malta. 4 (1): 41.

Yantorno O Y, Mazza L A, Balatti A P and Aguirre W. 1978. Influence of the

sterilization technic and culture media components on the growth and
dissociation of Brucella abortus strain 19 in submerged cultures. Revista de
la Asociacion Argentina de Microbiologia 10(3): 83-93.

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