How do cattle and bison get brucellosis?
They get it by nuzzling infected cows, aborted fetuses or placenta, or occasionally by eating or drinking contaminated food or water. The infected, pregnant animal is the most common source of infective material. You cannot tell if an animal is infected by looking at. The most obvious signs are abortion, birth of weak calves, and retained placentas. An infected cow can give birth to a normal calf and still spread bacteria in the fluid that escapes her uterus.
