WildLife Group
of the SAVA
BRUCELLOSIS IN
SOUTHERN AFRICAN WILDLIFE
Some Facts and Thoughts
by Roy Bengis
Background
Transmission
Brucellosis caused by Brucella abortus (of which
there are 8 biotypes) is mainly a disease of cattle, and
National control by means of the official Brucellosis
eradication scheme does not appear to have reached
desired goals, and the disease currently occurs in
cattle in all nine of our Provinces.
In addition, with Brucella melitensis, localisation of
infection in the testis, epididymus and accessory
sex organs is common in rams, viable organisms can
be isolated from the semen, and transmission via
artificial insemination has been demonstrated.
Brucellosis is a disease of livestock that has
opportunistically entered several wildlife populations
in South Africa, and it appears to have become selfmaintaining in some wild species.
Brucellosis caused by Brucella melitensis (of which
there are 3 biovars) is mainly a disease of small
ruminants, and outbreaks in South Africa are rare and
sporadic, the most recent outbreak reported from
northern Kwazulu / Natal in goats.
Transmission of Brucella abortus and Brucella
melitensis generally takes place by means of contact
with aborted foetuses, foetal membranes, lochia fluid
and vaginal discharges. Transmission may also occur
through ingestion of infected milk or colostrum.
Clinical signs
Both Brucella species infect the cotyledons of the
foetal membranes in the gravid uterus, resulting in
abortions.
Wildlife species affected
In Southern Africa, Brucella abortus infection has
most frequently been reported in African buffalo, but
sporadic infections or serological reactors have been