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ContentsThe most widely used screening test for the diagnosis of brucellosis in the dog is the rapid slide agglutination test in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME-RSAT). The diagnosis is partially confirmed by the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) and definitively confirmed by bacteriological isolation. Some chronic cases not detected by these tests may be detected by ELISA tests. The use of 2ME-RSAT in routine clinical practice requires a microscope and an experienced operator. An immunochromatographic diagnostic test for canine brucellosis (FASTest ® Brucella c., Megacor, Ho¨rbranz, Austria) has been recently released. In this study, we compared the diagnostic performance of the FASTest with those of 2ME-RSAT, AGID and ELISAs. Sera from 17 healthy dogs used as negative controls yielded negative results by FASTest, indicating a 100% specificity in this sample. Among 27 sera of dogs with acute or subacute brucellosis confirmed by B. canis isolation, all of which were positive by RSAT and ELISAs, the FASTest was positive in 24 cases and AGID in 23. In acute and subacute cases, the sensitivity of FASTest was 89%. Sera from six dogs with bacteriologically confirmed chronic brucellosis, which were positive by ELISAs but negative by 2ME-RSAT, were also tested; 1 was positive by FASTest and 4 were positive by AGID. These preliminary results indicate a good specificity of the FASTest (100% in this sample) but an unacceptable sensitivity as a screening test. In cases with chronic brucellosis, the sensitivity of the FASTest was lower than that of ELISAs but this assay could make a good intermediate test to be run after a positive RSAT and before running an AGID.

The hypo-osmotic (HOS) test has been used in other species as an indicator of the fertilising capacity of spermatozoa. The aims of this study were to assess the response of domestic cat spermatozoa to the hypo-osmotic test, to determine the type of solution, concentration and time of incubation needed to obtain a maximum percentage of swelling, to correlate the selected combination with the percentages of progressive motility and to evaluate whether dilution of the ejaculate alters the results. Incubation for 30 and 45 min in solutions of fructose and of citrate of 50 and 100 mOsmol kg⁻¹ was evaluated. The highest percentage of swelling was obtained using the 50 mOsmol kg⁻¹ solution, and no significant differences were observed between the times of exposure to the solutions. A positive correlation was observed between the percentage of individual progressive motility and the percentage of sperm swelling in a 50 mOsmol kg⁻¹ fructose solution, with no significant differences being observed between raw and diluted semen samples. The results of this study suggest that the HOS test could be useful for evaluating membrane function in domestic cat spermatozoa, both in raw semen and in samples diluted in the EZ Mixin® commercial extender, and thus could be incorporated into routine semen evaluation protocols.

c VirB proteins from Brucella spp. constitute the type IV secretion system, a key virulence factor mediating the intracellular survival of these bacteria. Here, we assessed whether a Th1-type immune response against VirB proteins may protect mice from Brucella infection and whether this response can be induced in the dog, a natural host for Brucella. Splenocytes from mice immunized with VirB7 or VirB9 responded to their respective antigens with significant and specific production of gamma interferon (IFN-␥), whereas interleukin-4 (IL-4) was not detected. Thirty days after an intraperitoneal challenge with live Brucella abortus, the spleen load of bacteria was almost 1 log lower in mice immunized with VirB proteins than in unvaccinated animals. As colonization reduction seemed to correlate with a Th1-type immune response against VirB proteins, we decided to assess whether such a response could be elicited in the dog. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from dogs immunized with VirB proteins (three subcutaneous doses in QuilA adjuvant) produced significantly higher levels of IFN-␥ than cells from control animals upon in vitro stimulation with VirB proteins. A skin test to assess specific delayed-type hypersensitivity was positive in 4 out of 5 dogs immunized with either VirB7 or VirB9. As both proteins are predicted to locate in the outer membrane of Brucella organisms, the ability of anti-VirB antibodies to mediate complement-dependent bacteriolysis of B. canis was assessed in vitro. Sera from dogs immunized with either VirB7 or VirB9, but not from those receiving phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), produced significant bacteriolysis. These results suggest that VirB-specific responses that reduce organ colonization by Brucella in mice can be also elicited in dogs. Brucellosis is caused by Gram-negative bacteria of the genus Brucella, which infect different domestic and wild animals but can also spread to humans, producing a systemic febrile illness sometimes accompanied by localized complications (1). As humans usually acquire the infection through contact with infected animals, their tissues (e.g., placental tissue), or their products (usually dairy products), prevention of the infection in host animals is an adequate strategy to prevent human brucellosis. No vaccine is currently available to prevent canine brucellosis due to Brucella canis. This infection, which leads to abortion, orchitis, diskospondylitis, and other health problems in dogs, has been increasingly reported in many countries (2-4) and has been shown to constitute a risk for human disease (5, 6).Approved vaccines for use in animals for preventing brucellosis are based on live attenuated strains, including B. abortus S19, B. abortus RB51, and B. melitensis Rev-1. While these vaccines have reduced the virulence for animals, they still can produce disease in humans, as demonstrated by the occurrence of brucellosis cases due to vaccine strains among veterinarians and other risk groups (7-9). Live vaccines also have restricted use in animals since...

The toluidine blue (TB) stain has been used in different species to evaluate the degree of chromatin condensation. The objectives of this study were as follows: simplify the TB stain to evaluate sperm in canine raw semen, verify the staining patterns for this species using this simplified technique and establish a protocol for using dithiothreitol (DTT) as a positive control for TB staining in dogs. Twenty‐one ejaculates were collected from 7 adult male dogs; semen was extended, fixed with ethanol 96° and stained with TB using 2 staining times: 15 and 30 min. In addition, 3 incubation times with 1% DTT were assayed (2, 5 and 30 min). Three staining patterns were established: light blue colouring (TB negative, normal chromatin condensation), light violet (TB intermediate, some degree of chromatin decondensation) and dark blue‐violet (TB positive, high degree of chromatin decondensation). No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed between the staining times (15 and 30 min) for any of the TB patterns. All DTT incubation times (2, 5 and 30 min) showed 100% sperm positive to TB. To conclude, it was possible to simplify the TB stain and determine the different patterns in canine spermatozoa. Also, DTT can be used both as a positive control for the stain and to evaluate individual susceptibility to decondensation in vitro.