Differentation ofBrucella abortusandYersinia enterocoliticaserotype 09 infections in cattle: The use of specific lymphocyte transformation and brucellin skin tests

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Abstract
The lymphocyte transformation test (using an in vitro whole‐blood lymphocyte stimulation procedure) and the Brucellin skin test were applied to five heifers infected with virulent Brucella abortus strain 544, five cows inoculated with Yersinia enterocolitica serotype 09, and four non‐exposed cows. Lymphocytes from Brucella‐inoculated animals persistently gave very high blastogenic reactions indicative of active Brucella infection. The test was persistently negative in Yersinia‐infected and non‐exposed cattle. Four of thefive cowsinfected with Yersinia enterocolitica type 09 and allfour control cattle were persistently negative to the delayed hypersensitivity skin reaction with brucellin. All cattle infected with Yersinia enterocolitica type 09 were strongly positive to the Rose Bengal, Serum agglutination, Complement fixation and Antibovine globulin tests using Brucella abortus antigens. One lactating cow infected with Yersinia enterocolitica type 09 was positive to Brucella milk ring test. These results indicate that standard Brucella serological tests are unreliable in differentiating the two infections in cattle and that both the Lymphocyte transformation and brucellin skin tests could be used to differentiate bovine brucellosis from yersiniosis.