Case report: Brucella canis infection in a resident of the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Brucella canis was isolated from the blood of a febrile adolescent male living in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. The apparent risk factor for acquiring the infection was ownership of dogs used for hunting small animals. The pathogen was identified to genus level by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization, followed by species-specific polymerase chain reaction, and confirmed by whole-genome sequencing. The multilocus sequence type matched that of previous isolates from dogs in South Africa. The patient responded well to appropriate treatment. Although canine brucellosis is already known by veterinary services to be present in the Eastern Cape Province, we believe that this is the first laboratory-confirmed human case to be recognized in South Africa and serves as an alert to clinicians and public health services.