Brucella canis

Brucella canis is a gram-negative proteobacterium in the family Brucellaceae that causes brucellosis in dogs and other canids. Bacteria B. canis are rod-shaped or cocci, oxidase, catalase, and urease positive. The species was firstly described in USA in 1966 where mass abortions of beagles were documented. The disease is characterized by epididymitis and orchitis in male dogs, endometritis, placentitis and abortions in females, and often presents as infertility in both sexes. Other symptoms such as inflammation in eyes and axial and appendicular skeleton, lymphadenopathy and splenomegaly, are less common. Humans can be also infected but infections are rare.