Brucella canis and Imported Rescue Dogs: The Real Risk to You
UK cases of Brucella canis rose sharply after 2020, mostly in dogs from Eastern Europe. What the risk to people is, what a test can tell you, and what helps.
Written by thecanineledger
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Before 2020, Great Britain had confirmed Brucella canis in just three dogs, all imported. By June 2023, the UK government was reporting “3 diagnoses pre-2020 and 97 diagnoses in 2023 (to June 2023)” (UK Health Security Agency, Brucella canis: information for the public and dog owners, 2023).
While that rise is real, the same guidance says “The risk of most people catching B. canis is very low.” This page explains who is at higher risk, what a test result means, and what the UK guidance tells owners to do.
1. What Brucella canis is
A bacterium that dogs can pass to people. The UK guidance describes it as “a type of bacterial species which causes an infection known as brucellosis.” B. canis is one of several Brucella species. A 2026 review in Veterinary Record explains that it “is transmitted principally via reproductive secretions from dogs, its primary reservoir” (Simonson et al., Veterinary Record 2026).
Where UK cases come from. “In the UK, it is mainly found in dogs imported from Eastern Europe.” All UK cases have been in dogs that were imported, mated with an imported dog, had contact with an imported dog’s birthing products, or were born to one.
It’s spreading within Britain now. The government’s guidance for vets says that “the first identified cases of within- GB transmission of this disease have now occurred” (Animal and Plant Health Agency, Canine brucellosis: information for veterinary staff, updated 17 November 2025).
2. Signs in dogs
Many infected dogs look well. The UK guidance says dogs “can also be infected but appear well and not have any obvious clinical signs”.
When there are signs, “B. canis often affects the reproductive system in dogs and can cause infertility and miscarriages.” Other signs include tiredness, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin, and back or joint problems, including lameness.
Back pain matters. The Veterinary Record review lists “discospondylitis, infertility and abortion” among the signs. Discospondylitis is infection of the spine’s discs and the bones next to them.
Our note: None of these signs is specific. If your dog was imported, tell your vet where it came from.
3. The risk to people
For most people, very low. The government’s expert risk assessment found that “the risk to the general population in the UK from B. canis is very low.”
Higher for some. For people more likely to contact birthing products, “such as breeders of imported dogs, or vets spaying and neutering infected dogs, the risk is low”. The guidance adds that “the risk to certain groups, such as people who have a weaker immune system (immunosuppressed) or young children, may be higher”.
Human cases are rare. As of July 2023, there had been “2 laboratory-confirmed cases of human brucellosis caused by B. canis” in Great Britain. The Veterinary Record review describes the first as passing “from a pregnant rescue dog imported from Belarus to its immunocompromised fosterer”.
Symptoms in people can take weeks to years to appear. The guidance lists fever, loss of appetite and weight loss, sweating, headaches, tiredness, and back and joint pain. It says that “most people make a full recovery with antibiotics”.
If you feel unwell after contact with an infected dog (in the UK), the guidance says you “should inform your GP or NHS 111”. Tell them about the dog.
Our note: This section is about human health, and a doctor should advise on it. The guidance says very little is known about the risk in pregnancy.
4. What a test result means
Testing is a blood test for antibodies. A positive result “means that the dog is, or has previously been, infected with B. canis.”
A negative result isn’t always the end. “A negative test result does not always mean that the dog does not have the infection”, because the dog may not have made antibodies yet.
Quick tests need confirming. Vet practices may use a rapid test first. The guidance says it “is not as accurate as the tests that can be done in a laboratory environment”, and recommends confirmation by national specialists “before irreversible decisions are made”.
Testing before import. Testing is “strongly recommended but is only a legal requirement for commercial imports of dogs from Romania into England, Scotland and Wales”. The Veterinary Record authors argue that this rule “omits key groups, including misclassified rescue imports”, pets travelling with owners, and illegal imports.
5. If your dog tests positive
Treatment isn’t recommended. The vet guidance says “Treatment is not recommended due to the poor likelihood of success”. The public guidance explains that “infection often continues despite this treatment.”
The options are hard. The vet guidance is blunt: “Euthanasia is the only way to completely eliminate all future risk of disease transmission from the dog”. It recognises this “is potentially a very upsetting measure”, and that some owners choose other ways to manage the risk. “Neutering reduces transmission risk but has not been proven to eliminate risk.”
Your vet will help you decide. The decision depends on the dog, and on the people and other animals in your home.
Our note: We’ve kept the guidance’s own wording on euthanasia.
6. Protecting yourself
The UK guidance gives this core advice for any dog, imported or born in the UK:
- “minimise contact with the dog’s reproductive or birthing products, blood, and urine”
- After any contact, wash your hands with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds
If you’ve already adopted an imported dog, the guidance says hand hygiene, the other precautions, “plus neutering your dog are the best ways to protect yourself and your family”.
Breeders are at higher risk. The guidance says hard surfaces soiled by an imported dog’s birthing products, blood or urine “should be thoroughly disinfected with a strong bleach solution”, and that breeders should check the origin of any dog they mate with theirs.
Our note: This guidance is UK-specific. We couldn’t open the US CDC pages, and we haven’t read Canadian guidance.
→ Adopting a Dog From Abroad: Rabies Rules, Brucella, and What Changed · → When to Spay or Neuter: What the Breed Studies Show, and What They Don’t
7. What we could not verify
| Commonly said | What we found |
|---|---|
| “Rescue dogs from abroad are dangerous to your family” | The risk is very low for most people, according to UK experts. It’s higher for breeders, immunosuppressed people and young children. |
| “A healthy-looking dog can’t have it” | It can. Many infected dogs show no signs. |
| “One negative test clears the dog” | Not always. A recently infected dog may not have made antibodies yet. |
| “Antibiotics will cure the dog” | Not recommended. UK guidance says infection often continues despite treatment. |
| “Every imported dog in the UK is tested” | No. Testing is only required for commercial imports from Romania. |
| “Brucella canis is common in North American rescues” | Not checked. We couldn’t read US or Canadian guidance for this page. |
Sources
- UK Health Security Agency. Brucella canis: information for the public and dog owners. 26 September 2023: government guidance. ⚠️ Not peer-reviewed. Read in full
- Animal and Plant Health Agency. Canine brucellosis (Brucella canis): information for veterinary staff. Updated 17 November 2025: government guidance. ⚠️ Not peer-reviewed. Read in full
- Simonson P, Bhattacharyya T, Miles MA. ‘Reservoir dogs’: The emerging zoonotic risk associated with European dog imports to the UK. Vet Rec 2026: scoping review. No conflicts or specific funding declared
Always confirm with your vet before acting on anything on this page.