Although few recent outbreaks of disease
caused by B. suis biovar 4 have been reported (5),
foci of the infection persist in the Arctic regions of
North America and Russia and constitute a
potential hazard for the local population. B. ovis
has not been demonstrated to cause overt disease
in humans, although it is widespread in sheep
(Tables 1-5). B. canis can cause disease in humans,
although this is rare even in countries where the
infection is common in dogs (6). Precise