Brucella ovis

Identity

Preferred Scientific Name

• Brucella ovis

Taxonomic Tree

• Domain: Bacteria
•     Phylum: Proteobacteria
•         Class: Alphaproteobacteria
•             Order: Rhizobiales
•                 Family: Brucellaceae
•                     Genus: Brucella
•                         Species: Brucella ovis

Distribution Table

The distribution in this summary table is based on all the information available. When several references are cited, they may give conflicting information on the status. Further details may be available for individual references in the Distribution Table Details section which can be selected by going to Generate Report.

Pathogen Characteristics

Brucella ovis are small Gram-negative coccobacilli, which are non-motile, non-encapsulated and non-spore-forming. In infected tissue they normally occur singly or in short chains. The organism grows on Brucella basal media enriched with 5-10% serum or blood. On primary isolation it requires addition of 10-20% carbon dioxide and it requires 5 days incubation at 34-37°C for visible colonies to appear. The colonies, when they appear, are circular and 2 mm in diameter.

Brucella ovis does not produce H₂S. It usually grows in the presence of basic fuchsin and thionin at standard concentrations but is inhibited by methyl violet; catalase positive and oxidase negative. It is lyzed only by phage strain R/O at both routine test dilution (RTD) or 10⁴ RTD. There is only one biotype (Burgess, 1982; Corbel et al., 1979; Blasco, 1990).

Vectors and Intermediate Hosts

References

Blasco JM, 1990. Brucella ovis.. Animal brucellosis., 351-378; 131 ref.

Burgess GW, 1982. Ovine contagious epididymitis: A review. Veterinary Microbiology, 7:551-575.

Corbel MJ, Gill KPW, Redwood, DW, 1979. Diagnostic procedures for non-smooth Brucella strains. UK: Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Publications), 31-43.

OIE Handistatus, 2002. World Animal Health Publication and Handistatus II (dataset for 2001). Paris, France: Office International des Epizooties.

OIE Handistatus, 2003. World Animal Health Publication and Handistatus II (dataset for 2002). Paris, France: Office International des Epizooties.

OIE Handistatus, 2004. World Animal Health Publication and Handistatus II (data set for 2003). Paris, France: Office International des Epizooties.

OIE Handistatus, 2005. World Animal Health Publication and Handistatus II (data set for 2004). Paris, France: Office International des Epizooties.

Distribution Maps