Brucella canis and Canine Herpes Virus (CHV) in aborted foetuses and pups that died during the neonatal period

Stillbirth and neonatal puppy mortality are common in dogs, with rates of up to 30%. Infectious diseases are the second most common cause. Two pathogens are of particular interest in relation to puppy mortality: Brucella canis and CHV (canine herpesvirus).

Both infections may occur subclinically in adult dogs but can cause severe disease with high mortality in fetuses and puppies. B. canis is rare in Sweden, but the consequences of the infection for breeders can be devastating. The relevance of CHV as a cause of abortion and neonatal mortality in Swedish puppies remains unclear. We aim to investigate the presence of these two agents in material collected as part of another ongoing necropsy study within Project Puppy Health.

Aborted fetuses and deceased puppies submitted for the necropsy study but excluded due to postmortem changes will be sampled for Brucella canis and CHV. The results are directly relevant for breeders, as puppy mortality causes both economic and emotional distress, as well as for veterinarians in their efforts to reduce puppy mortality.