Brucella canis

Brucella canis
Gram-stained photomicrograph depicting numerous gram-negative Brucella canis bacteria
Scientific classification
Domain:	Bacteria
Phylum:	Pseudomonadota
Class:	Alphaproteobacteria
Order:	Hyphomicrobiales
Family:	Brucellaceae
Genus:	Brucella
Species:	B. canis
Binomial name
Brucella canis Carmichael & Bruner, 1968

Brucella canis is a Gram-negative bacterium in the family Brucellaceae that causes brucellosis in dogs and other canids. It is a non-motile short-rod or coccus-shaped organism, and is oxidase, catalase, and urease positive.^[1] B. canis causes infertility in both male and female dogs. It can also cause inflammation in the eyes. The hosts of B. canis ranges from domestic animals to foxes and coyotes.^[2] It is passed from species to species via genital fluids. Treatments such as spaying, neutering, and long-term antibiotics have been used to combat B. canis. The species was first described in the United States in 1966 where mass abortions of beagles were documented.^[3] Brucella canis can be found in both pets and wild animals and lasts the lifespan of the animal it has affected.^[2] B. canis has two distinct circular chromosomes that can attribute to horizontal gene transfer.^[4]