NATURALLY-OCCURRING BRUCELLA-SUIS BIOVAR-4 INFECTION IN A MOOSE (ALCES-ALCES)

A debilitated adult female moose (Alces alces) shot east of the MacKenzie River, Northwest Territories, Canada, had large fluctuant masses over both carpi. Only the forelimbs were available for examination. Carpal pathology included bilateral bursitis and osteomyelitis of subjacent bone. In addition severe osteomyelitis with fractures was observed in the left lateral and right medial digits. Brucella suis biovar 4 was isolated from the right medial first phalanx. This is believed to be the first reported case of infection with this organism in a wild moose. The bacterium is common in caribou (Rangifer tarandus) in the region.