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Brucellosis in cattle and buffalo

Bovine brucellosis is a zoonotic bacterial disease of cattle and buffalo caused primarily by Brucella abortus. It is endemic across India and is a leading reproductive disease of dairy herds, with chronic infection driving abortions, infertility and persistent yield loss. Brucellosis is also a notifiable occupational zoonosis of farm workers, veterinarians and slaughterhouse staff.

Identification and symptoms

The classic herd sign is abortion in the last third of pregnancy, often in heifers during their first calving. Retained placenta, metritis, delayed return to oestrus and repeat breeding are common sequelae. Bulls may develop orchitis and epididymitis. In humans, infection presents as undulant fever, joint pains and chronic fatigue. Diagnosis in herds rests on milk ring tests, rose Bengal plate agglutination and confirmatory ELISA or PCR.

Host species and life cycle

Brucella abortus is shed in high numbers in aborted foetuses, foetal membranes and uterine discharges, and in milk from infected cows. Transmission within a herd is by ingestion of contaminated feed or water, contact at calving, and venereally during natural service or unhygienic insemination (Artificial Insemination Cattle). Once established, the organism localises in the reticulo-endothelial system and the pregnant uterus, where it persists for life.

Damage and economic impact

Affected herds experience extended calving intervals, replacement-heifer shortfalls, condemnation of infected animals and milk-yield loss. Because no curative therapy exists in cattle and culling is voluntary, the disease imposes a long-term constraint on commercial dairying with both crossbred (Holstein Friesian Crossbred Cow, Jersey Crossbred Cow) and indigenous breeds (Sahiwal Cow) and buffaloes (Murrah Buffalo).

Management

Control is delivered through the National Animal Disease Control Programme (NADCP), launched by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying in September 2019 with an outlay of Rs 13,343 crore for 2019-2024. The programme provides free, once-in-a-lifetime vaccination of female bovine calves aged 4-8 months with Brucella abortus strain 19 (S19) live attenuated vaccine. Bulls and males above the calf age are not vaccinated. Herd hygiene supplements vaccination: isolation of aborting animals, deep burial or incineration of foetuses and membranes, disinfection of calving pens, and serological screening before introducing new animals into the herd (Dairy Shed Design).

See also: Mastitis Dairy, Ongole Cattle.

References

  1. National Animal Disease Control Programme. Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying.
  2. Brucellosis Control Programme. ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics.