Hawaii Veterinary State Licensing Practice Exam

Brucella suis is a bacterium that primarily affects swine and can lead to several distinct clinical signs. The correct choice highlights the key associated conditions that occur due to this infection.

Pigs infected with Brucella suis often exhibit orchitis, which is the inflammation of the testicles in males, leading to pain and swelling. This bacterium can also cause lameness, typically due to joint infections, and abscesses that can form in various tissues. In females, metritis, which is the inflammation of the uterus, can occur, often resulting in reproductive issues, including abortion.

Understanding the key signs associated with this bacterium is essential for veterinary professionals when diagnosing and managing infections in swine populations. The other options present signs that are not typical manifestations of Brucella suis infection in pigs. For instance, fever, coughing, weight loss, and anorexia can be linked to a range of infectious diseases but are not specific to Brucella. Similarly, vomiting, diarrhea, and dehydration are more indicative of gastrointestinal issues unrelated to Brucella suis, while seizures, jaundice, and respiratory distress would suggest different health problems not associated with this bacterial infection.