{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,30]],"date-time":"2026-09-30T23:58:07Z","timestamp":1790812687545,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"4","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762128000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Epidemiologia"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Brucella canis is a zoonotic pathogen associated with reproductive disorders in dogs and represents an emerging public health concern. Dogs are the only known source of infection for humans, and transmission is often associated with close contact, particularly in occupational settings. Reports of canine and human infections in Europe are increasing, underscoring the need for integrated surveillance to assess the risk of introduction and spread. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the possible circulation of B. canis in different subgroups of dogs from Central Italy, representing diverse risk contexts (stray, breeding, blood donor, refugee-associated, and previously outbreak-linked dogs), and to generate sentinel data to inform further risk-based surveillance and zoonotic risk assessment. Methods: A comprehensive serological, molecular, and bacteriological survey was conducted on 128 dogs sampled in the Umbria region, covering animals from different backgrounds and risk contexts. Blood samples were tested using bacterial culture, real-time PCR, serum agglutination test, complement fixation test, and\/or indirect immunofluorescence antibody test. Results: All tested dogs were negative for B. canis. The upper 95% confidence limit for prevalence was 3.5%, suggesting that widespread circulation is unlikely, although a low\/moderate prevalence in specific groups cannot be excluded. Conclusions: Although no cases of B. canis were detected, the results provide sentinel information and highlight the need for continued risk-based surveillance, particularly in low-prevalence areas to prevent introduction of the infection and to enable early detection in case of occurrence. As dogs are the only known source of human infection, veterinary monitoring plays a pivotal role in mitigating zoonotic risks and supporting One Health strategies for evidence-based control.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/epidemiologia6040071","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]],"date-time":"2025-11-03T18:21:46Z","timestamp":1762194106000},"page":"71","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Absence of Brucella canis Detection in Dogs from Central Italy: Implications for Regional Surveillance and Zoonotic Risk"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"6","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4270-4263","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Luisa","family":"Marenzoni","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Sabrina","family":"Attura","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Brigitta","family":"Favi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servizio di Sanit\u00e0 Animale, USL UMBRIA 1, 06127 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Teresa","family":"Antognoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Beatrice","family":"Conti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1306-6629","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Andrea","family":"Felici","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Umbria e Marche \u201cTogo Rosati\u201d, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Carmen","family":"Maresca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Umbria e Marche \u201cTogo Rosati\u201d, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-4551-9100","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Eleonora","family":"Scoccia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Umbria e Marche \u201cTogo Rosati\u201d, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Maria Rita","family":"Bonci","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servizio di Sanit\u00e0 Animale, USL UMBRIA 1, 06127 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessia","family":"Pistolesi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servizio di Sanit\u00e0 Animale, USL UMBRIA 1, 06127 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Simona","family":"Zangh\u00ec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Servizio di Sanit\u00e0 Animale, USL UMBRIA 1, 06127 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anna","family":"Confaloni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, 06063 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7114-4736","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Lakamy","family":"Sylla","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-7197-6196","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Daniele","family":"Marini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, 06124 Perugia, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9811-699X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Fabrizio De","family":"Massis","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell\u2019Abruzzo e del Molise \u201cG. Caporale\u201d, National Reference Center for Brucellosis, 64100 Teramo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2618-6192","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Flavio","family":"Sacchini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell\u2019Abruzzo e del Molise \u201cG. Caporale\u201d, National Reference Center for Brucellosis, 64100 Teramo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6614-9989","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Manuela","family":"Tittarelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell\u2019Abruzzo e del Molise \u201cG. Caporale\u201d, National Reference Center for Brucellosis, 64100 Teramo, Italy"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Santos, R.L., Souza, T.D., Mol, J.P.S., Eckstein, C., and Paix\u00e3o, T.A. (2021). Canine brucellosis: An update. Front. Vet. Sci., 8.","DOI":"10.3389\/fvets.2021.594291"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2249126","DOI":"10.1080\/22221751.2023.2249126","article-title":"The emergence of Brucella canis as a public health threat in Europe: What we know and what we need to learn","volume":"12","author":"Djokic","year":"2023","journal-title":"Emerg. 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