Comparison of Brucella abortus and B melitensis antigens for the Rose Bengal plate test on sera from cattle infected with B abortus biovar-5
Corbel, M.J.
Veterinary Record 117(15): 385-386
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 2414899 Document Number: 263494
This abstract replaces VB 56, abst 9. (January 1986 issue). A comparison was made between the manual and automated techniques of the Rose Bengal plate test, using antigens prepared from B. abortus biovar 1 and B. melitensis biovar 1, and 1703 serum samples from cattle infected with B. abortus biovar 5. By the manual technique 73.5% of samples were positive with abortus antigen and 93.9% with melitensis antigen, but this difference was not apparent with the automated technique, 74.2% being positive to abortus and 72.5% to melitensis antigen. The use of antigen prepared from B. abortus biovar 1 detects infections with biovars 1 and 2, which are dominant in the United Kingdom, but not biovar 5, which occurs in parts of Scotland. Antigen from B. melitensis biovar 1, strain 16M overcame this shortcoming.