COMPARISON OF THE ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY WITH OTHER TESTS FOR BRUCELLOSIS, USING SERA FROM EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED HEIFERS

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (8) , 1329-1332
Abstract
During an evaluation of H-38 Brucella melitensis vaccine, serum samples were collected from 24 Hereford-Angus heifers (nonvaccinated controls) before exposure and then 11 times between 12-102 days after exposure to B. abortus strain 2308. Antibody concentrations were determined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and by standard tube agglutination (STA), 2-mercaptoethanol agglutination (ME), microtitration complement fixation (MCF) and automated complement-fixation (ACF) tests. The results were compared in terms of concordance, sensitivity and specificity. Concordance between the ELISA and other tests was 100% (STA), 75.7% (ME), 97.8% (MCF) and 95.2% (ACF). On the 12th day after heifers were exposed, antibodies were detected in 18.2% of the infected heifers by the ELISA and in 11.1% with the STA test, in 0% with the ME test, in 33.3% with the MCF test and in 44.4% with the ACF test. On the 25th day, ELISA and all serotests (except ME) detected antibodies in all infected heifers. All serum samples from the heifers before exposure were negative.