Infection trials in pigs with a human isolate of Brucella ( isolate 02/611 'marine mammal type' )

Authors: Daniels PW, Taylor TK, O'Keefe JS, Meehan G, Middleton DJ, Mackereth GF, Swingler JE, Bingham J
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 56, Issue 1, pp 10-14, Feb 2008
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Human, Livestock, Pig, Production animal
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Biosecurity, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Diagnostic procedures, Disease transmission, Epidemiology, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Reproduction, Public health, Zoonosis
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: AIM: To determine if pigs could support infection of a human Brucella isolate (Brucella 02/611) from New Zealand, and to study seroconversion to this isolate using a competitive ELISA.
METHODS: Ten weaner piglets were challenged with 4.8 x 108 cfu of organisms by the oral and ocular routes. Culture was attempted on blood samples taken prior to challenge, and 4, 7, 9, 11, 14, 21 and 28 days post-challenge, and on tissue samples taken at the termination of the trial, 1 month after challenge. Sera were analysed for antibody using an ELISA. For reference comparison, similar trials were conducted in two pigs using an isolate of Brucella suis biovar 1, and two pigs using an isolate of B. suis biovar 3.
RESULTS: Brucella 02/611 organisms were re-isolated from one lymph node each from three pigs; all other samples were negative. Low and transient antibody titres were detected using a competitive ELISA in three pigs, two of which were culture negative. Organisms of B. suis reference strains were re-isolated from multiple samples from each of the four animals.
CONCLUSION: Brucella 02/611 does not seem to replicate readily in pigs. It is unlikely that pigs were the original maintenance hosts for Brucella 02/611.
KEY WORDS: Brucella, brucellosis, marine Brucella, infection trial, New Zealand, pig

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