Butchering a seal at the floe edge                Hamilton photo

Brucellosis in Arctic Marine Mammals: 
A threat to team dogs?

by Sue Hamilton

The story first appeared in the August 8, 2001 edition of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's "News North". The Canadian Department of Fisheries and Oceans has identified nine cases of brucellosis in ring and harp seals and one in a beluga whale, from Hudson Bay to the western high arctic. It is suspected that walrus and narwhal are also affected. Until now, the disease in wildlife has been identified only in caribou. According to the report, brucellosis in caribou has been transmitted to humans, causing fever, headache and flu-like symptoms.

Although the brucellosis bacterium has many strains that affect different animal species, including cattle, what the article seems to be indicating is that there appears to be interspecies infectivity.

The Canadian government is investigating whether or not the disease in marine mammals can be transmitted to humans, even though they have already declared its presence in marine mammals a “legitimate problem”.

The only way to get a handle on the prevalence of the disease is by the widespread blood testing of various species, including humans and dogs. Because of the recent findings in marine mammals, it is understandable why the Canadian government plans to test humans. There has been no mention of performing the relatively simple test on dogs. Wary dog breeders in the States have for years required that both stud dogs and brood bitches be tested for the presence of canine brucellosis prior to mating. In dogs, the disease can cause sterility in males and abortions and still births in pregnant females. No vaccine exists for either humans or dogs. According to the 1980 veterinary text: Current Veterinary Therapy (Ricardo, Carmichael "Canine Brucellosis" pp. 1303-1305), treatment is "expensive, impractical and not necessarily effective." There may be a persistent but unapparent communicable infection lasting for years after obvious infection. Although dogs may recover from the disease, resulting in immunity, infertility may be lifelong. While canine brucellosis is considered a public health risk, people “should not be alarmed since man, like other non-canine species, appears to be relatively resistant.”

The Fan Hitch will seek to gather more information about brucellosis in the arctic, if and how it impacts dogs now and what the future may bring, and present more information in the next issue.

References

Ricardo, F-C., &  Carmichael, L. E. (1980). Current Veterinary Therapy. (Vol. 7) Mexico City  and Ithaca, NY: (ISBN 0-7216-5471-1) W. B. Saunders Company.