Detection of Brucella canis infection in Pit Bull breed dogs in Turkey

Abstract

Brucella canis infection is an often neglected but important zoonotic disease. This study aims to determine its seroprevalence in Pit Bull dogs from the Western Region of the Turkish Anatolian Peninsula. In the Province of Manisa, 2 mL blood samples were taken from the antebrachial region of 35 Pit Bull dogs using sterile K2EDTA (3.6 mg) blood tubes, and the samples were analyzed using both the mercaptoethanol (ME) microagglutination test and B. canis–specific PCR techniques. Of the 35 dogs tested by 2–ME RSAT, 13 (37.14%) tested positive and 22 (63%) tested negative. Of the 13 dogs that tested positive for 2–ME RSAT, 8 (22.85%) were female, and 5 (14.28%) were male. Subsequent PCR analysis of all samples revealed that 7 (20%; 7/35) of the samples that tested positive for 2–ME RSAT were actually B. canis–specific PCR positive. These findings suggest that B. canis is present in Pit Bull dogs, although they provide a general idea of the disease's prevalence of the disease in the region. Multicentre studies with larger numbers of cases in different groups of Pit Bulls, such as healthy, patient and risk groups, are needed to provide comprehensive evidence.