Brucellosis is a disease caused by several species of the Brucella bacterium. It is chronic and contagious.
The disease can affect many species of mammals, particularly cattle, swine, bison, elk, deer, goats, sheep, horses and other ruminants.
In Canada, brucellosis (Brucella abortus, Brucella suis, Brucella melitensis) is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all cases must be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).