Development of a western blotting assay to discriminate Brucella spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 infections in sheep
Corrente, M.; Desario, C.; Greco, G.; Buonavoglia, D.; Pratelli, A.; Madio, A.; Scaltrito, D.; Consenti, B.; Buonavoglia, C.
New Microbiologica 27(2): 155-161
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1121-7138 PMID: 15164626 Document Number: 569654
Outer membrane proteins (OMPs) of Rev-1 strain of Brucella melitensis were used in a Western blotting assay for the serological diagnosis of brucellosis in ovine sera. Fifty-four sheep sera were tested and divided into the following groups: Group A) n. 9 samples from one sheep that had been experimentally infected with Y. enterocolitica O:9; Group B) n. 10 samples collected from sheep infected with Brucella melitensis and 1 sample from a sheep vaccinated with the Rev 1 strain; Group C) n. 10 samples collected in "officially brucellosis-free" herds; Group D) n. 12 samples classified as "suspicious"; Group E) n. 12 samples classified as "positive". Antibodies were detected by routine tests performed for the diagnosis of brucellosis in serum samples of the sheep infected with Y. enterocolitica O:9 after the 2nd week post infection. In the WB assay, sera of group B recognised a 17 kDa protein, whereas sera of groups A, and D and 9 out of 12 of group E exhibited no reactivity to this protein. The results obtained encourage the use of the WB assay as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of brucellosis.