National Reference Laboratories for Brucella spec. Infections

OIE and NRL for Bovine, Porcine, Ovine and Caprine Brucellosis
NRL for ovine Epididymitis

Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella (B.). As the pathogen can be transmitted to humans by cattle (B. abortus), pigs (B. suis), sheep and goat (B. melitensis) as well as to a limited extent by dogs (B. canis), brucellosis is a zoonotic disease. Germany is recognized as officially free from notifiable bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine brucellosis. Main symptoms of brucellosis in animals are abort, premature birth or birth of dead, weak or poorly developed animals. Male animals often develop inflammatory changes of the genital tract, especially testes and epididymis. Main tasks of the Reference Laboratory are the support of the veterinary laboratories of the federal states by confirmation tests in case of positive results and the licensing and batch testing of diagnostics.

In the frame of the OIE reference laboratory we support of the international laboratories by confirmation tests and we organise laboratory training courses in diagnosis of brucellosis.

Infections of sheep with Brucella ovis are treated as a separate disease (ovine epididymitis) and are not covered by the provisions of the regulation on brucellosis.

Melzer, F., Neubauer, H.

Research Project:
Hazard generated by discharge of human bacterial pathogens in the food chain using the example of brucella

Project duration: 01/2008 – 06/2011

The main task of the project is to investigate possible scenarios concerning the deliberate discharge of brucella in the livestock or the food chain. For this purpose experiments will be conducted to examine the tenacity and multiplication of the pathogen in different kinds of feeding stuff and food under realistic circumstances.

The project is a co-operation between BfR and FLI.