Jefferson City, MO – At the recent Animal Care Facilities Act Advisory Committee meeting, both Dr. Chuck Massengill, Animal Health Epidemiologist with the Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) and Dr. John Hunt, State Veterinarian with MDA, dodged the issue of eradicating canine brucellosis in Missouri’s hundreds of commercial animal breeders. Although the advisory committee is supposed to provide guidance for MDA’s Division of Animal Health, both representatives cited a lack of funds and authority to control this potentially egregious problem.

According to Dr. Massengill, of the hundreds of commercial breeders in the state that are eligible for the voluntary certification program, only thirteen are certified as brucellosis free kennels with two others currently in the certification process. Dr. Hunt claimed that the MDA did not have the regulatory authority to require commercial breeders to eradicate canine brucellosis or even any other disease, such as the parvo virus from its facilities.

“Here in the state that leads the nation in commercial pet production, facility operators are not required by the Missouri Department of Agriculture or the Department of Health to eliminate this highly contagious organism,” said In Defense of Animals’ Director of Investigations, Marshall Smith. “Not only are they turning their backs on a potential public health hazard, they are also allowing animals to become chronically infected. Virtually nothing is being done to protect the health and well being of dogs housed in these facilities. Meanwhile, thousands of puppies are being shipped to pet shops in the U.S. and abroad to ill-informed consumers.”

Canine brucellosis is a chronic bacterial infection that is transmitted from dog to dog during breeding and whelping. Male dogs infected with canine brucellosis may become sterile, while female dogs may experience spontaneous abortions and diminished reproductive capability. The disease can also be transmitted to humans, usually through abrasions, causing flu-like symptoms.

According to information on the Center for Disease Control’s web page, “Brucella spp. have a high probability for use in biologic terrorism.” The web site also indicated that the disease is highly infectious in the laboratory, and cultures warrant bio-safety level-3 precautions.