PET OWNER VERSION

Glanders (Farcy) in Dogs

ByJohn F. Timoney, MVB, PhD, Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky;

Bert E. Stromberg, PhD, Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota;J. P. Dubey, MVSc, PhD, Animal Parasitic Diseases Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural Research Center, USDA;Paul Ettestad, DVM, MS, Epidemiology and Response Division, New Mexico Department of Health;Jodie Low Choy, BVSc, BVMS, IVAS Cert, Menzies School of Health Research; University Avenue Veterinary Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia;Joseph Taboada, DVM, DACVIM, Office of Student and Academic Affairs, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University;Charles O. Thoen, DVM, PhD, Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University;John F. Timoney, MVB, PhD, Department of Veterinary Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, University of Kentucky;Ian Rodney Tizard, BVMS, BSc, PhD, DSc (Hons), DACVM, Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University;Geoffrey W. Smith, DVM, PhD, DACVIM-LAIM, Zoetis;Martin E. Hugh-Jones, VetMB, MPH, PhD, MRCVS, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University;Henry R. Stämpfli, DMV, Dr Med Vet, DACVIM-LAIM, Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph;Kate E. Creevy, DVM, MS, DACVIM-SAIM, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A & M University;Gad Baneth, DVM, PhD, DECVCP, Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, Rehovot;Katharine F. Lunn, BVMS, PhD, DACVIM-SAIM, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University;Reinhard K. Straubinger, DrMedVetHabil, PhD, Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, LMU;Jodie Low Choy, BVSc, BVMS, IVAS Cert, Menzies School of Health Research; University Avenue Veterinary Hospital, Northern Territory, Australia;Manuals Staff;Márcio Garcia Ribeiro, DVM, PhD, Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, SP, Brazil;Thomas Wittek, Dr Med Vet, DECBHM, University Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna;Yasuko Rikihisa, PhD, Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University;Janet E. Foley, DVM, PhD, Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis

Reviewed/Revised Jun 2018 | Modified Sept 2024

Glanders is a contagious, short or longterm, usually fatal disease of horses caused by the bacterium Burkholderia mallei. The disease is characterized by the development of a series of ulcerating nodules. The nodules are most commonly found in the upper respiratory tract, lungs, and skin. People, dogs, cats, and other species are susceptible, but infections in dogs are uncommon. Infections in people are often fatal.

Prevention and control depend on early detection and elimination of affected animals. Complete quarantine and rigorous disinfection is required for all housing and objects that have been in contact with the infected animal. Euthanasia is usually recommended for infected animals.

Also see professional content regarding glanders.

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