Brucella canis

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The request was successful.

Ms Buckley
Delivered

Dear Bristol University,

Please can you tell me:
1. Has any staff member or student been diagnosed as seropositive for Brucella canis as a consequence of carrying out veterinary duties either at the Langford Veterinary Hospital or through EMS placements within the UK during the period 2018 - 2023?
1.a. How many of these were confirmed Brucella canis positive using a PCR or a Culture?
1.b. Were any of these incidents reported to the Health and Safety Executive under RIDDOR related legislation? (all/some/none). If not, why not?
1.c.If yes, how many of these were thought to have contracted Brucella canis at the Langford Veterinary Hospital and how many while on an EMS placement at a UK veterinary facility?

2. How many individual dogs have you tested on site for Brucella canis using an in house testing kit during the period 2018 - 2023?
2.i. which brand(s) were used?
2.ii. How many (number of, not %) of these dogs fell into the following categories: i. tested as routine screening (i.e. not because of specific clinical signs), and ii. tested because they had clinical signs suggestive of BC? What % of dogs in each of these groups tested positive?
2.ii. How many of those that tested positive in each group (outlined in 2.ii.) had further external testing carried out at a UK laboratory? What % in each group tested positive on at least one of the external tests?

3. How many dogs had their initial blood test from Brucella canis testing processed in an external laboratory (i.e. bypassed in house testing)?
3.i. How many (number of, not %) of these dogs fell into the following categories: i. tested as routine screening (i.e. not because of specific clinical signs), and ii. tested because they had clinical signs suggestive of BC? What % of dogs in each of these groups tested positive?

Many thanks for your time.

Yours faithfully,

Ms Buckley

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SecOInformation Governance, University of Bristol

Dear Ms Buckley, 
Freedom of Information Request (our reference FOI23429)
We refer to your Freedom of Information request dated 26/08/2023.
You requested the following information:
"...1. Has any staff member or student been diagnosed as seropositive for
Brucella canis as a consequence of carrying out veterinary duties either
at the Langford Veterinary Hospital or through EMS placements within the
UK during the period 2018 - 2023?
1.a. How many of these were confirmed Brucella canis positive using a PCR
or a Culture?
1.b. Were any of these incidents reported to the Health and Safety
Executive under RIDDOR related legislation? (all/some/none). If not, why
not?
1.c.If yes, how many of these were thought to have contracted Brucella
canis at the Langford Veterinary Hospital and how many while on an EMS
placement at a UK veterinary facility?

2. How many individual dogs have you tested on site for Brucella canis
using an in house testing kit during the period 2018 - 2023?
2.i. which brand(s) were used?
2.ii. How many (number of, not %) of these dogs fell into the following
categories: i. tested as routine screening (i.e. not because of specific
clinical signs), and ii. tested because they had clinical signs suggestive
of BC? What % of dogs in each of these groups tested positive?
2.ii. How many of those that tested positive in each group (outlined in
2.ii.) had further external testing carried out at a UK laboratory? What %
in each group tested positive on at least one of the external tests?

3. How many dogs had their initial blood test from Brucella canis testing
processed in an external laboratory (i.e. bypassed in house testing)?
3.i. How many (number of, not %) of these dogs fell into the following
categories: i. tested as routine screening (i.e. not because of specific
clinical signs), and ii. tested because they had clinical signs suggestive
of BC? What % of dogs in each of these groups tested positive?..."
University’s Response
Further to Section 1 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the “Act”) we
confirm that the information requested is not held by the University of
Bristol (the “University”).
To the best of the University's knowledge, no cases of Brucella canis have
been reported to the University amongst staff or students since 2018. 
The University does not hold any information relevant to the remainder of
your request. Langford Veterinary Services is a separate legal entity to
the University and is not subject to the Freedom of Information Act. 
Internal Review Procedure
If you are dissatisfied with the handling of your request, then you have a
right under Section 50 of the Act to request an internal review.
All such requests must be sent to us within 40 days, and must clearly
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We will aim to respond to your request for an internal review within 20
working days of receipt.
Your request for an internal review should be sent to
[University of Bristol request email], quoting your FOI reference number.
Alternatively, you could post it to:
General Counsel and Deputy University Secretary 
Legal Services, Governance and Information Compliance - Office of the
University Secretary
University of Bristol
Beacon House
Queens Road
Bristol
BS8 1QU
Information Commissioners Office
Should you remain dissatisfied with the final outcome of the internal
review then you may apply directly to the Information Commissioner (the
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Body responsible for overseeing the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the
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Please note the ICO will only review cases that have exhausted the
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More information can be found at the ICO’s website
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Kind Regards
Freedom of Information Team
University of Bristol

To: SecOInformation Governance ([University of Bristol request email])
From: Ms Buckley ([FOI #1018820 email])
Title: Freedom of Information request - Brucella canis
Sent: 26/08/2023 12:58

Dear Bristol University,
Please can you tell me:
1. Has any staff member or student been diagnosed as seropositive for
Brucella canis as a consequence of carrying out veterinary duties either
at the Langford Veterinary Hospital or through EMS placements within the
UK during the period 2018 - 2023?
1.a. How many of these were confirmed Brucella canis positive using a PCR
or a Culture?
1.b. Were any of these incidents reported to the Health and Safety
Executive under RIDDOR related legislation? (all/some/none). If not, why
not?
1.c.If yes, how many of these were thought to have contracted Brucella
canis at the Langford Veterinary Hospital and how many while on an EMS
placement at a UK veterinary facility?
2. How many individual dogs have you tested on site for Brucella canis
using an in house testing kit during the period 2018 - 2023?
2.i. which brand(s) were used?
2.ii. How many (number of, not %) of these dogs fell into the following
categories: i. tested as routine screening (i.e. not because of specific
clinical signs), and ii. tested because they had clinical signs suggestive
of BC? What % of dogs in each of these groups tested positive?
2.ii. How many of those that tested positive in each group (outlined in
2.ii.) had further external testing carried out at a UK laboratory? What %
in each group tested positive on at least one of the external tests?
3. How many dogs had their initial blood test from Brucella canis testing
processed in an external laboratory (i.e. bypassed in house testing)?
3.i. How many (number of, not %) of these dogs fell into the following
categories: i. tested as routine screening (i.e. not because of specific
clinical signs), and ii. tested because they had clinical signs suggestive
of BC? What % of dogs in each of these groups tested positive?
Many thanks for your time.
Yours faithfully,
Ms Buckley
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References

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