Open Access
How to translate text using browser tools
1 October 1996 THE PATHOGENICITY OF BRUCELLA SUIS BIOVAR 4 FOR BISON
Julia S. Bevins, John E. Blake, L. Garry Adams, J. W. Templeton, Jamie K. Morton, Donald S. Davis
Author Affiliations +
Abstract

The pathogenicity of Brucella suis biovar 4 for bison (Bison bison) was evaluated by inoculation of 2.1 × 107 colony forming units (CFU) in 0.1 ml saline into the conjunctival sac of six pregnant cows. Six pregnant bison were inoculated with 1.27 × 107 CFU of Brucella abortus strain 2308 as a positive control. Bison were inoculated on 23 January 1992, and observed until calving or abortion after which they were euthanized, and necropsied. Bacteriological and histological examinations were conducted on lymph nodes, reproductive tract, mammary gland, and internal organs. Terminal serum samples from calves and cows were evaluated by card, rivanol precipitation, standard tube agglutination, cold complement fixation tube, indirect bison conjugated enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), competitive ELISA, and particle-concentration fluorescence immunoassay. No clinical signs of brucellosis were seen in bison inoculated with B. suis biovar 4, and infection was found only in lymph nodes of two animals. There was no evidence of metastasis of this organism to the mammary gland or the reproductive tract. There were no detectable levels of antibodies to Brucella spp. in terminal blood samples taken from B. suis biovar 4-challenged bison. Brucella abortus was isolated from several tissues in all control bison. All B. abortus-challenged animals developed uterine infection and five developed mam-mary gland infection. Reproductive disease resulted in abortions in five B. abortus-challenged bison and neonatal death in the remaining calf. Brucella suis biovar 4 does not appear to be pathogenic for bison.

Bevins, Blake, Adams, Templeton, Morton, and Davis: THE PATHOGENICITY OF BRUCELLA SUIS BIOVAR 4 FOR BISON
Julia S. Bevins, John E. Blake, L. Garry Adams, J. W. Templeton, Jamie K. Morton, and Donald S. Davis "THE PATHOGENICITY OF BRUCELLA SUIS BIOVAR 4 FOR BISON," Journal of Wildlife Diseases 32(4), 581-585, (1 October 1996). https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-32.4.581
Received: 7 June 1993; Published: 1 October 1996
KEYWORDS
bison
Bison bison
Brucella suis biovar 4
brucellosis
pathogenesis
Back to Top