Swine Brucellosis: How You Can Eradicate It

Authors

Date of this Version

1961

Citation

Prepared by Animal Disease Eradication Division Agricultural Research Service U.S. Department of Agriculture Washington 25, D.C. September 1961

Comments

US govt work

Abstract

Swine brucellosis is a bacterial disease that affects swine, other domestic animals, and humans. Severe exposure causes the disease in cattle, dogs, cats, and poultry. The disease can spread from one species of animal to another, and from animals to humans. However, it does not normally spread from one human to another, or from humans to animals. The disease costs the swine industry about $10 million a year. Losses due to human infection cannot be estimated. Although human brucellosis, or undulant fever, is difficult to diagnose-especially in mild cases-a total of 892 cases were documented in the United States in 1959. And the majority of these were due to human contact with swine. Humans may readily contract swine brucellosis by direct or indirect contact with infected hogs, as well as by drinking raw milk from cattle infected with Brucella suis. Human brucellosis is also caused by Brucella melitensis, which is commonly found in goats, and by Brucella abortus, which affects cattle. Where swine brucellosis is found ... This disease is found in the United States whereever hogs are raised. It is most prevalent in the hog producing States of the Midwest and South.