What is brucellosis testing?
Brucellosis testing is a diagnostic procedure used to detect Brucella bacteria in livestock, typically through blood serum testing or bacterial culture, required by Colorado livestock owners and veterinarians for herd health certification and interstate movement.
Brucella bacteria cause brucellosis, a contagious disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats, swine, and other livestock. The infection spreads through birth products, urine, milk, and other bodily fluids, making it a serious herd health concern. In cattle, brucellosis commonly causes abortion in pregnant animals and reduced milk production, while infected bulls may develop orchitis or seminal vesiculitis. Humans exposed to infected animals or raw milk products risk contracting undulant fever.
Colorado veterinarians conduct brucellosis testing to identify infected animals and prevent transmission within herds and across state lines. Testing methods include serum agglutination tests (SAT), which detect antibodies in blood, and bacterial culture, which isolates the organism from tissues or fluids. The Colorado Department of Agriculture regulates brucellosis testing as part of its disease control program. Cattle destined for sale, breeding stock moving between states, and animals in herds with known exposure typically require testing before movement or at regular intervals.
The disease remains rare in Colorado's commercial cattle herds due to long-standing eradication efforts, but brucellosis testing remains a critical requirement for herd certification, veterinary herd health plans, and compliance with state and federal livestock regulations. Owners managing cattle, sheep, or other susceptible species should consult livestock veterinarians about testing schedules and reporting obligations.