More Than a Travel History

Brucella canis, imported dogs and our updated referral approach

Brucella canis (B. canis) has been on the veterinary profession’s radar for some time, but with growing numbers of imported dogs travelling abroad, it’s becoming an increasingly important consideration for practices across the UK.

In 2020, there were just three confirmed canine cases of B. canis in the UK. Between 2020 and 2023, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) documented 160 positive cases. The numbers have continued to rise, with 333 confirmed cases reported in 2024 and a further 84 diagnoses in the first three months of 2025 alone. Importantly, the UK Government reports that all confirmed UK cases have involved either imported dogs or dogs with direct contact with imported dogs.

Rather than debating the wider issue of dog importation, our focus is on keeping patients moving smoothly through the referral process while protecting veterinary teams. As a referral centre, we have a responsibility to minimise the risk of exposure for our staff without creating unnecessary delays for patients who need specialist care.

Although transmission of B. canis to people remains uncommon, veterinary professionals are naturally at greater risk because of the nature of our work.

Brucella canis in brief

Brucella canis is the bacterium responsible for canine brucellosis. It is most commonly spread between dogs during breeding, pregnancy (to the foetus), or through contact with semen and vaginal secretions. Less commonly, infection can occur through contact with or ingestion of birthing material, milk, urine, saliva, nasal secretions or faeces. Infected bitches can shed large numbers of bacteria for four to six weeks following whelping or abortion, and the organism can survive for months in cool, damp environments.

People can also become infected – typically through exposure of broken skin or mucous membranes to infected blood, birthing fluids or other bodily fluids.

Dogs imported from eastern and southern Europe, Asia, Africa and Central or South America are considered higher risk. Currently, around half of all dogs imported into the UK originate from Romania, with Spain and Cyprus also accounting for a substantial proportion of imports.

Within veterinary practice, the greatest risks arise through direct contact with infected body fluids, needlestick injuries and aerosol-generating procedures such as dentistry, anaesthesia and nebulisation. For owners, the highest risk is associated with breeding, whelping or contact with infected body fluids.

Our updated approach

Many imported dogs have been “tested for Brucella” before entering the UK. However, this often refers to screening tests such as the Rapid Slide Agglutination Test (RSAT), lateral flow or SNAP tests. Whilst useful, these screening tests cannot reliably detect all stages of infection.

Current recommendations are for combined indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT) testing through the APHA, as this provides the most reliable assessment of both recent and established infection.

To help minimise delays once a patient has been referred, HeartVets will now ask that dogs with a travel or import history from higher-risk regions have APHA iELISA/SAT testing arranged by their primary care practice before routine referral appointments wherever possible. If these tests have already been performed, we’ll simply ask for a copy of the results. If you want to double check any details with us, get in touch and we would be happy to help.

It’s worth remembering that antibody production can take up to 12 weeks after exposure (seroconversion), so follow-up testing is often recommended approximately three months after a dog enters the UK. Many owners are unaware of this, particularly if they’ve been told their dog was “tested before import”.

By discussing travel history and appropriate testing with clients early, we can avoid difficult conversations later, reduce delays to referral appointments and ensure patients receive specialist care as quickly as possible.

What about emergencies?

This policy will never prevent patients receiving urgent or emergency cardiology care.

Where an imported dog requires emergency assessment but appropriate APHA testing has not yet been performed, the referral will be reviewed by our clinical team. This allows us to assess the individual risk and put appropriate measures in place before the patient arrives, including additional personal protective equipment (PPE), clinic-specific protocols and enhanced cleaning procedures where necessary.

If you need to refer a case urgently that does not yet have an APHA iELISA and SAT negative test result, please call ahead so that we can provide the care your patient needs, as safely as possible.

Working together

We appreciate that conversations around Brucella testing can sometimes be challenging, particularly when owners believe their dog has already been fully tested before entering the UK. In many cases, this simply comes down to understanding that different tests provide different levels of information.

By asking about travel and import history early, and discussing APHA testing before referral, we can work together to avoid unexpected delays and make the referral process as straightforward as possible for everyone involved.

Many referral centres are now adopting similar protocols, reflecting the increasing prevalence of this notifiable disease in the UK. Ultimately, our shared aim is simple: to continue providing timely specialist care while protecting veterinary teams, owners and patients alike.

While our updated referral process is designed to protect patients and veterinary teams today, we also hope it contributes to wider awareness. Every conversation about Brucella testing helps owners make more informed decisions, and as awareness grows, so too should expectations around appropriate pre-import health screening. In time, informed client demand may prove one of the strongest drivers for improving standards across the importation process.

What next? We have created a handy quick-look guide for owners to aid your conversations in clinic. See article 2 for more information…