Search

Brucellosis is one of the most important bacterial zoonotic diseases worldwide, characterized in domestic animals by long-term reproductive disorders. As known, wild boars (Sus scrofa) are natural hosts for Brucella suis biovar 2, in which the infection passes in inapparent form, increasing the pathogen transmission risk to domestic pigs, other domestic animals and humans. So far, no studies regarding brucellosis in wild boars in Serbia have been published. During the hunting season 2020/2021, 480 sera of wild boars living in Serbia were collected and tested for the presence of anti-Brucella antibodies. For the serological survey, the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) were used. Of the 480 sera, 45 sera tested positive, indicating the acquired Brucella seroprevalence in wild boars of 9.4%. The greatest numbers of Brucella seropositive animals were detected in the eastern parts of the country and in one of the central districts, i.e., Pomoravski, Branicevski, Borski and Juznobanatski. This study provides the first data regarding brucellosis in the wild boar population in Serbia, revealing the seroprevalence of Brucella, thus indicating that wild boars as natural hosts and/or vectors of Brucella likely present a risk for the infection of other animals.

The purpose of this research was to detect Brucellosis in female dairy cattle in Turen District, Malang Regency. A total of 78 samples were used in this research taken from 351 total population of female dairy cattle that have been calculated based on the slovin formula. The methods used in this research were Rose Bengal Test (RBT) for the screening test and continued with Complement Fixation Test (CFT) for the confirmation test. The results RBT of this research clearly showed that positive results from 10 samples were confirmed as a final diagnostic test of Brucellosis using CFT. CFT showed a positive result from 9 samples and negative in 1 sample. The percentage of Brucellosis occurrence in the Turen District was recorded at 11.5%. Moreover, Turen District also became an area with a high Brucellosis occurrence (>2%).

Brucellosis is a zoonosis of economic and public health concern. While most diagnostic tests for brucellosis can only be performed in the laboratory, the Fluorescence Polarization Assay (FPA) was developed as a rapid point-of-care field test. This pilot project aimed to validate the use of FPA for rapid diagnosis of ruminant brucellosis on the field, and to compare the FPA performance with that of the more commonly used Rose Bengal Test (RBT). Blood samples were first collected from ruminants in a livestock market, and later from a nearby slaughterhouse in Port Bouët, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. Samples collected in the livestock market were processed and tested with the FPA in a central laboratory, while samples collected in the slaughterhouse were processed immediately and the FPA was performed on site. To assess the FPA intra-test agreement, a portion of the serum samples tested at the slaughterhouse were re-tested with the FPA in the laboratory later the same day. To assess inter-test agreement, all serum samples were retested with the RBT. A total of 232 samples were tested with the FPA, 106 and 126 from the livestock market and slaughterhouse, respectively. Of these, 26 tested positive and 39 were doubtful for brucellosis. The FPA was repeated on 28 of the samples collected at the slaughterhouse, and comparison of results indicated a moderate intra-test agreement (Kappa = 0.41). The agreement improved when the doubtful category was treated as negative (Kappa = 0.65), and when cattle were excluded (Kappa = 0.56 to 0.61). The RBT was performed on 229 samples, and of these 10 tested positive. A comparison of FPA and RBT results indicated poor agreement (Kappa = 0.00); this improved to slight when only samples taken at the livestock market and tested in the laboratory were considered (Kappa = 0.14). The FPA did not perform well in tropical field conditions, possibly due to the high ambient temperatures in the slaughterhouse. Moreover, a difference in performance was noted in relation to the species tested, whereby the FPA seemed to perform better on sheep and goat samples, compared to cattle samples. These findings highlight that further adjustments are needed before implementing the FPA on the field.

BACKGROUND One of the most common causes of fever with back pain in India is brucellosis along with tuberculosis infection of the spinal cord and vertebral column. Brucellosis is a multisystem infection with a broad-spectrum of clinical presentations. Its nervous system involvement is known as neurobrucellosis is complication of brucellosis occurring in 0 to 25% and can present as meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis-radiculoneuritis, brain abscess, peripheral neuropathy and psychosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this case study, we present a 54-year-old male patient a cattle worker with unexplained back pain. Appropriate blood investigations, CSF analysis and MRI scan were taken towards the cause of the diagnosis. RESULTS CSF analysis showed lymphocyte pleocytosis with agglutination in Rose Bengal test. MRI diagnostic of neurobrucellosis revealed anterosuperior osteophyte inflammations, namely Pedro Pons’ sign or Pom’s sign. CONCLUSION Through this case report, we would like to notify that neurobrucellosis should be considered as one of the differential diagnosis and not to be missed as it is treatable. In such conditions, patient has to be treated with two or more antimicrobials such as rifampicin, co-trimoxazole and doxycycline in order to achieve complete cure rate and to prevent relapse.

Tujuan penelitian adalah untuk mendeteksi adanya antibodi dari Brucella pada ternak sapi perah betina di Banyuwangi menggunakan uji Rose Bengal Test (RBT) untuk uji cepat dan dikonfirmasi dengan menggunakan Complement Fixation Test (CFT). Sebanyak 84 sampel dari 516 sapi perah betina di Banyuwangi, kemudian diambil secara acak. Sampel yang diambil berasal dari serum sapi perah betina. Hasil penelitian ditemukan dua sampel yang dinyatakan positif Brucellosis dengan uji RBT dan CFT. RBT merupakan uji screening yang dapat memberikan hasil positif palsu, dan kemudian dikonfirmasi dengan uji CFT untuk melihat titer hasil vaksin atau infeksi alam. Hasil positif pada uji RBT memiliki hubungan dengan hasil titer CFT karena titer antibodi pada RBT dapat diukur dari derajat aglutinasi yang terbentuk. Hasil seropositif penyakit Brucellosis di Banyuwangi sebesar 2%.

Penelitian ini bertujuan mengetahui keberadaan antibodi dari bakteri brucella pada sapi perah di Kecamatan Purwoharjo Kabupaten Banyuwangi menggunakan Rose Bengal Test (RBT). Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah metode analisis diskriptif dengan pendekatan kuantitatif, yaitu metode yang menggambarkan keberadaan antibodi Brucella pada sapi perah dengan cepat. Informasi pendukung diperoleh dari survei peternak dengan teknik wawancara. Sampel ditentukan dengan rumus slovin dengan ukuran sampel sebanyak 75 sampel dari 294 ekor sapi pada populasi sapi perah di Kecamatan Purwoharjo. Hasil penelitian menunjukan 2 sampel dinyatakan positif Brucella dari 75 sampel. Hasil penelitian ini dapat disimpulkan bahwa reaktor Brucella ditemukan pada sapi perah di Kecamatan Purwoharjo Kabupaten Banyuwangi yang berpotensi menyebabkan penyakit Brucellosis. Harapan dari penelitian ini adalah data yang diperoleh dapat diuji ulang dan diuji lebih lanjut dalam penelitian selanjutnya sehingga hasil dapat dikonfirmasi.

In a herd of 20 sheep in Sweden, a country where brucellosis has never been diagnosed in sheep or goats, a total of six sheep were found serologically positive to Brucella melitensis in two different rounds of sampling. Yersinia enterocolitica serotype O:9 could at the time of the second sampling be isolated from four sheep, one of them at the same time serologically positive for B. melitensis. The article describes the case and gives some background information on brucellosis and Y. enterocolitica in general as well as a more specific description of the Swedish surveillance program for B. melitensisand the test procedures used. The problem with falsepositive reactions, in particular its implications for surveillance programs in low prevalence or officially brucellosis-free countries, is discussed.(Published: 11 December 2012) Keywords: brucellosis; false-positive reactions; Rose Bengal Test; Complement Fixation Test; Yersinia enterocoliticaCitation: Infection Ecology and Epidemiology 2012, 2: 19027 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/iee.v2i0.19027

The aim of the present study was to analyse the diagnostic yield of the rose Bengal test for the rapid diagnosis of human brucellosis in an emergency department in an area where the disease is endemic. The study included 711 patients diagnosed initially with brucellosis and 270 controls. Brucellosis patients were divided into three groups: group I, individuals with no regular exposure to or history of brucellosis; group II, individuals exposed repeatedly to Brucella infection; and group III, individuals infected with Brucella who had received appropriate treatment during the previous 12 months. Blood cultures were positive for 445 (62.6%) brucellosis patients, while the remaining 266 (37.4%) patients were diagnosed according to clinical and serological criteria. The overall sensitivity of the rose Bengal test was 92.9%. The specificities for groups I, II and III were 94.3%, 91.7% and 76.9%, respectively, with positive likelihood ratios of 16.5, 10.4 and 4.2, respectively. The diagnostic gain after the performance of the rose Bengal test was good or very good in patients with no previous exposure to Brucella or history of brucellosis, but poor in patients who were exposed repeatedly to Brucella or had a history of brucellosis and a low pre-test probability. Use of the rose Bengal test as the sole technique for the diagnosis of brucellosis in endemic areas should be considered very carefully in the context of patients who are exposed repeatedly to Brucella or have a history of brucellosis.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between tear function tests and impression cytology results and the clinical findings in ocular rosacea. METHODS: Patients with a histopathologic and clinical diagnosis of acne rosacea were studied. Ocular examination consisted of best-corrected visual acuity measurement, slitlamp examination, tear break-up time (BUT), basal Schirmer test, and rose Bengal staining. Impression cytology was done two days later. Ocular findings and symptoms were checked and scored. Age-matched controls were assessed using the same parameters. RESULTS: The most frequent symptoms were itching (80%), redness (68%), burning (64%), and photophobia (60%). The most frequent clinical findings were meibomitis (92%), telangiectasis (88%), blepharitis (84%), superficial punctate keratopathy (72%), and hyperemia (60%). Mean tear BUT was 9.6+/-3.1 (SD) seconds (range 5-17 seconds). Mean Schirmer test measured 11.4+/-1.6 mm (SD) (range 8-15 mm). Mean rose Bengal staining scored 1.8+/-0.1. Mean tear BUT, Schirmer test and rose Bengal staining scores were lower in the rosacea group than the control group (p0.05). A significant relation was observed between the stages of impression cytology and the severity of meibomitis (Fisher's test, chi2=9.625, p=0.001). The Schirmer test gave lower results in patients with severe blepharitis (Mann-Whitney U Test, U=180.5, p=0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Early diagnosis prevents serious ocular complications and chronic dry eye in rosacea. We suggest that in addition to tear function tests, rose Bengal staining and impression cytology can be successfully used in the early diagnosis of dry eye and in monitoring medical treatment in ocular rosacea. Meibomian glands play an important role in the pathogenesis of the ocular disease.

Brucellosis causes appreciable economic losses in livestock. Examination of milk and tissues from animals in Egypt for Brucella spp. showed increased prevalence rates of serologically reactive animals. All isolates were B. melitensis biovar 3. One Brucella sp. was isolated from milk of serologically nonreactive buffaloes.

Introducción: La brucelosis es un enfermedad zoonotica relacionada al contacto con perros y con ganado vacuno, porcino y caprino, el agente etiológico pertenece al género Brucella con diez especies de importancia para el ser humano; su capacidad para evadir el sistema inmune y sobrevivir en el fago-lisosoma genera un cuadro clínico crónico en el ser humano caracterizado por fiebre ondulante y afectación osteoarticular. Su amplia variedad de expresión clínica genera un reto al momento del diagnóstico y tratamiento; por tal razón es relevante el reconocimiento de las pruebas diagnósticas que permitan establecer el posible contacto con el microorganismo. Objetivo: Establecer la seroprevalencia a Brucella spp en una población de estudiantes de Medicina Veterinaria con posible exposición ocupacional. Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo observacional donde se estudiaron 272 sueros obtenidos de estudiantes de medicina veterinaria mediante la técnica de rosa de bengala. Resultados: El 18,4% (50/272) de los sujetos presento positividad por rosa de bengala; 28 hombres (56%) y 22 mujeres (44%). Conclusiones: La serología mediante rosa de bengala en esta población de riesgo evidenció un 18,5% de sujetos seropositivos. Se sugiere el empleo de barreras efectivas de protección durante el contacto con animales portadores del microorganismo durante el entrenamiento como estudiantes de Medicina veterinaria. Introduction: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease related to contact with dogs and cattle, pigs and goats, the etiologic agent belongs to the genus Brucella with ten species of importance to humans, its ability to evade the immune system and survive in the phage-lysosome generate a chronic clinical picture in humans characterized by undulant fever and osteoarticular involvement. Its wide range of clinical expression generates a challenge at the time of diagnosis and treatment, for this reason, it is important the recognition of the diagnostic tests for establishing the possible contact with the microorganism. Objective: To establish the seroprevalence to Brucella spp in a sample of Veterinary Medicine students with possible occupational exposure. Materials and Methods: Observational descriptive study by means of rose bengal technique 272 sera obtained from veterinary students were processed. Results: 18.4% (50/272) of subjects were positive by rose bengal test; 28 men (56%) and 22 women (44%). Conclusion: Serology by rose bengal test in this risk population showed 18.5% of seropositive subjects. It suggests the use of effective protective barriers during contact with animals carrying the organism during training as veterinary medical students.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-03T13:08:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-01-01Bitstream added on 2014-12-03T13:23:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 WOS000328275300037.pdf: 682847 bytes, checksum: 77587033f5cf83d64db0eeddf9816152 (MD5) Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG) Fundacao de Estudo e Pesquisa em Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia - FEP-MVZ Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) Canine brucellosis is an infectious disease of worldwide distribution that can affect dogs, wild canids and man. It is caused by Brucella canis, but dogs can also be infected by smooth Brucella such as B. abortus and B. suis. Due to the increasing importance of dogs in our society, the scarcity of information about canine brucellosis in the country and its zoonotic character, the aims of the present study were (i) to conduct a survey on the infection by B. canis and smooth Brucella in dogs from the municipality of Araguaina, Tocantins, Brazil, and (ii) to evaluate the risk factors associated with these infections. Sera from 241 dogs were analyzed by agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) to detect B. canis-antibodies, and Buffered Acidified Plate Antigen test (BAPA) and fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) to detect antibodies to smooth Brucella. From the 241 tested dogs, 132 reacted in the AGID and 128 reacted in the BAPA, but only two were positive in FPA. The seroprevalences of B. canis and smooth Brucella infections in dogs in Araguaina were 54.77% (95% CI: 48.25 to 61.17%) and 0.83% (95% CI: 0.10 to 2.97%), respectively. The analysis of risk factors showed associations between B. canis infection and vaccination against leptospirosis, and between B. canis infection and use of manufactured food. In conclusion, data from the present study showed a low prevalence of infection by smooth Brucella and a widespread and high prevalence of infection by B. canis in the city of Araguaina, Tocantins, Brazil. Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, UFMG, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil. Escola de Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, UFG Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal do Tocantins, UFT, Araguaina, TO, Brasil. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil. Instituto de Pesquisas Veterinárias Desidério Finamor, Eldorado do Sul, RS, Brasil. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP, Brasil.

La brucelosis es una zoonosis que afecta negativamente los rebaños lecheros en América Latina. El hombre, fundamentalmente se infecta con la bacteria Brucella abortus por la ingesta de productos lácteos no pasteurizados. En Venezuela la mayor parte de la producción láctea se obtiene con animales mestizos doble propósito, generalmente criados bajo condiciones sanitarias defi cientes. Una fracción importante de esta leche es trasformada en quesos frescos para la alimentación humana. En el país la prueba tamiz ofi cial es la de Rosa de Bengala (RBT), mientras que el ELISA competitivo (cELISA) se considera como prueba confi rmatoria defi nitiva. Se realizó un estudio para conocer el estatus de la Brucelosis en el estado Lara-Venezuela, donde inicialmente se hicieron pruebas del Anillo de Leche (PAL) a 276 Unidades de Producción (UP), encontrándose que el 30% eran positivas. Posteriormente, se sometieron sueros sanguíneos de 13.351 bovinos de ambos sexos y de todos los grupos etáreos mayores de seis meses, de 83 UP positivas a la PAL, a las técnicas de RBT y cELISA. El índice de positividad fue de 0,51% con RBT y 7,33% con cELISA. Ambas pruebas indican que el estado Lara tiene bajo índice de positividad. Sin embargo, la sensibilidad relativa de la prueba de RBT resultó muy baja (6,44%), al compararla con la obtenida por cELISA. Esta baja sensibilidad se traduce en un alto número de falsos negativos que no son eliminados de los rebaños y que constituyen una fuente constante de infección para los otros animales y el hombre Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease that negatively affects milk production in Latin America. Infections with Brucella abortus bacteria observed in human populations are fundamentally caused by ingestion of non-pasteurized milk by-products. In Venezuela, most of the milk production is obtained from crossbred dual purpose herds, which are generally under defi cient sanitary conditions. A signifi cant amount of milk produced is used for production of non-pasteurized cheese for human consumption. In Venezuela, the offi cial screening test for brucellosis is Rose Bengal test (RBT), leaving competitive ELISA test (cELISA) to only defi nitively confi rm results obtained from RBT. A trial was performed to assess the status of brucellosis in Lara state, Venezuela. Initially, milk ring tests were performed in 276 farms, with 30% of them testing positive. Serum samples were collected from all animals of farms that tested positive to ring test. A total of 13.351 serum samples were collected and tested with both RBT and cELISA assays. Positive index observed with RBT was lower when compared to cELISA (0.51% vs 7.33%, respectively). Furthermore, both tests confi rm that positive index in Lara state is very low. However, relative sensitivity observed in RBT is very low when compared to cELISA (6.44%). This low sensitivity could result in a high number of false negative animals that, consequently, will not be eliminated from the herds. Thus, this would constitute a constant source of infection to other animals and people

El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de Brucella sp. en el ganado bovino de la provincia de Canta, Lima, mediante la detección de anticuerpos en suero a través de la prueba inicial de Rosa de Bengala y la de Fijación de Complemento como prueba confirmatoria. Se procesaron 486 muestras de suero en toda la provincia encontrándose un animal positivo a Brucella sp. en el distrito de Santa Rosa de Quives, lo que significó una prevalencia de 0.21% con intervalo de confianza mínimo de 0.09 y máximo de 0.60%. Los resultados indican una baja prevalencia, lo que permitiría implementar un programa de erradicación de brucelosis bovina en la provincia de Canta., The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Brucella sp. in cattle of the province of Canta, Lima, through the detection of antibodies in blood using the Rose Bengal test and then, the complement fixation test to confirm positive sera. A total of 486 serum samples were analysed and only one from the district of Santa Rosa de Quives was found positive. This indicated that the prevalence was 0.21% (1/486) with a confidence interval of 0.09 till 0.60%. The results showed that the presence of Brucella sp. in the province of Canta was very low, which may allow the implementation of a program for Brucella eradication.

En base a un diagnóstico circunstancial de dos casos de brucelosis en un hato bovino del distrito de Codo del Pozuzo, Huánuco, se llevó a cabo un estudio de prevalencia de Brucella sp. en 5439 bovinos entre abril a junio de 2007. Dos bovinos resultaron positivos a la prueba de Rosa de Bengala, pero negativos a la prueba confirmativa de Fijación del Complemento. El modelo de simulaciones estocásticas de distribución beta mostró una prevalencia de 0.02% con intervalo de confianza mínimo de 0 y máximo de 0.06%., A seroprevalence study on 5439 cattle from April to June 2007 was conducted based on a circumstantial diagnosis of two cases of bovine brucellosis in the district of Codo del Pozuzo, en the region of Huanuco. Two animals resulted positive to the Rose Bengal test but negative to the Complement Fixation test. The beta distribution using a simulation model showed a prevalence of 0.02% with a minimum interval of confidence of 0 and maximum of 0.06%.

A seroprevalence study on 5439 cattle from April to June 2007 was conducted based on a circumstantial diagnosis of two cases of bovine brucellosis in the district of Codo del Pozuzo, en the region of Huanuco. Two animals resulted positive to the Rose Bengal test but negative to the Complement Fixation test. The beta distribution using a simulation model showed a prevalence of 0.02% with a minimum interval of confidence of 0 and maximum of 0.06%. En base a un diagnóstico circunstancial de dos casos de brucelosis en un hato bovino del distrito de Codo del Pozuzo, Huánuco, se llevó a cabo un estudio de prevalencia de Brucella sp. en 5439 bovinos entre abril a junio de 2007. Dos bovinos resultaron positivos a la prueba de Rosa de Bengala, pero negativos a la prueba confirmativa de Fijación del Complemento. El modelo de simulaciones estocásticas de distribución beta mostró una prevalencia de 0.02% con intervalo de confianza mínimo de 0 y máximo de 0.06%.

Aim To evaluate competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for its suitability as an additional serological test for the diagnosis of animal brucellosis. Methods cELISA, which was developed at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency, has been evaluated for its accuracy and suitability as an additional serological test for the diagnosis of animal brucellosis. Samples from naturally and experimentally infected animals and those from Brucella-free flocks and herds were tested. Results Data obtained since 1991 were analyzed from routine surveillance, animals experimentally infected with Brucella, and stored sera to validate cELISA for the detection of antibodies to Brucella in cows, small ruminants, and pigs. The sensitivity of the test ranged from 92.31% to 100%, in comparison with 77.14% to 100% for the complement fix ation test (CFT). Specificities for cELISA, indirect enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, and CFT were greater than 90%. Conclusion cELISA can be used on a variety of animal species, and an added advantage is its suitability for use on poor-quality samples such as those affected by hemolysis.

Istražena je pojavnost bruceloze na području Karlovačke županije tijekom 2008. godine. Na bolest su pretraživana goveda, ovce i koze, a istraživano je prisustvo antitijela za Brucellu abortus, Brucellu melitensis i Brucellu ovis. Metode kojima je analizirana krv životinja su Rose Bengal test i reakcija vezanja komplementa (RVK). Od 1.1.2008.-31.12. 2008. godine, sukladno propisanim mjerama u Naredbi o mjerama zaštite životinja od zaraznih i nametničkih bolesti u 2008. godini serološki je metodom RVK pretraženo 12910 uzoraka seruma domaćih preživača sa teritorija Karlovačke županije. Nedvojbeno je utvrđeno da bolesti ima, ali isto tako je utvrđeno da se sustavnim provođenjem propisanih mjera ista drži pod nadzorom. Od ukupnog broja pretraženih uzoraka (12910) pozitivnih je bilo 358 ili 2, 77%. Dobivene rezultate usporedili smo sa stanjem bruceloze na području cijele RH u periodu od 1990.-2007. godine i sa stanjem bruceloze u Unsko-sanskom kantonu (FBiH) tijekom 2007. godine. S obzirom na stanje u RH u periodu od 1990.-2007. ustvrdili smo da postoji trend porasta broja serološki pozitivnih životinja bolesti, a s obzirom na stanje u Unsko-sanskom kantonu da bolest kod nas još nije uhvatila maha i da je sustavnim provođenjem mjera sprečavanja pojave, suzbijanja i eradikacije pojavnost bolesti pod nadzorom.

La brucelosis es una enfermedad bacteriana generalizada con tendencia a la cronicidad si no se trata adecuadamente. El diagnóstico de laboratorio se realiza por el aislamiento e identificación del agente o en la mayoría de los casos mediante pruebas serológicas. En este estudio se informa la prevalencia de anticuerpos séricos contra Brucella sp. en habitantes de comunidades rurales de Cartago dedicadas principalmente a la ganadería de leche. Se analizó un total de 714 muestras representativas de la población mediante la técnica de aglutinación Rosa de Bengala en lámina (RBT) y la prueba de aglutinación en microplaca (SAT). Se encontró una prevalencia de 0.87 %, y en ninguna persona seropositiva se demostró seroconversión. Aún, cuando el 71 % de la población refirió consumir leche no pasteurizada, no se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa (1.09 %, IC 0.30-2.77) entre el consumo de leche no pasteurizada y la presencia de anticuerpos sugestivos de infección por Brucella sp. A pesar de ser una zona de alta prevalencia de brucelosis bovina por Brucella abortus, la ausencia de síntomas en la población y los bajos títulos de anticuerpos observados sugieren una escasa exposición previa al agente.Prevalence of serum antibodies for the bacterium Brucella sp. in a tropical human population. Brucellosis is a systemic bacterial disease that can last years if not treated properly. The laboratory diagnosis is made by serological tests or isolation of the agent. We studied the prevalence of antibodies against Brucella sp. in inhabitants of rural communities of Cartago, Costa Rica, who are dedicated mainly to dairy cattle activities. We analyzed 714 representative samples with the Rose Bengal plate agglutination test (RBT) and the standard agglutination test in microplate (SAT). The overall prevalence was 0.87 %. No seroconversion was demonstrated for seropositive individuals. Even though 71 % of the population mentioned consuming non-pasteurized milk, no statistically significant association was found (1.09 %, IC 0.30-2.77) between milk consumption and the presence of antibodies suggestive of infection by Brucella sp. As a brucellosis high-risk population, the absence of symptoms in the population agrees with the observed titers of antibodies, suggesting a low previous exposure to the agent. Rev. Biol. Trop. 55 (2): 385-391. Epub 2007 June, 29.

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of Brucella sp. in cattle of the province of Canta, Lima, through the detection of antibodies in blood using the Rose Bengal test and then, the complement fixation test to confirm positive sera. A total of 486 serum samples were analysed and only one from the district of Santa Rosa de Quives was found positive. This indicated that the prevalence was 0.21% (1/486) with a confidence interval of 0.09 till 0.60%. The results showed that the presence of Brucella sp. in the province of Canta was very low, which may allow the implementation of a program for Brucella eradication. El objetivo del presente estudio fue determinar la presencia de Brucella sp. en el ganado bovino de la provincia de Canta, Lima, mediante la detección de anticuerpos en suero a través de la prueba inicial de Rosa de Bengala y la de Fijación de Complemento como prueba confirmatoria. Se procesaron 486 muestras de suero en toda la provincia encontrándose un animal positivo a Brucella sp. en el distrito de Santa Rosa de Quives, lo que significó una prevalencia de 0.21% con intervalo de confianza mínimo de 0.09 y máximo de 0.60%. Los resultados indican una baja prevalencia, lo que permitiría implementar un programa de erradicación de brucelosis bovina en la provincia de Canta.

PURPOSE. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between tear function tests and impression cytology results and the clinical findings in ocular rosacea.

Sera from sheep and goats in northern Somalia which are exported to countries of the Persian Gulf are systematically checked for brucellosis by local veterinary teams. The standard test used is rapid seroagglutination using the Rose Bengal test (RBT) and seropositive animals are not exported. In order to assess the reliability of the serological results, three randomised batches of samples (653 sera), corresponding to an equivalent number of shipments (October and December 1994 and March 1995) were counterchecked. Control RBTs were carried out by expatriate veterinarians working on behalf of international non-governmental organisations and by the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Padua, Italy, which also performed the complement fixation test (CFT). A fourth batch (n = 100), including a group of sera found positive by the local veterinary teams, was also checked. Agreement ranged from 96.3% to 98.5%.

European Union (EU) Directive 97/12/EC allows the trade of cattle within the EU of animals originating from an 'officially brucellosis-free herd'. To qualify for this status, a number of different programmes must be implemented. Each EU Member Country is free to decide which procedure to use to qualify herds. The authors conducted a study to compare the merits and costs of testing programmes given in the Directive and of some alternative testing strategies. The effectiveness of testing programmes was evaluated by a Monte Carlo simulation model. Programmes listed in the Directive do not appear to have identical sensitivity and specificity. Simulations of the programmes showed that milk testing may be more effective and efficient than blood testing to identify infected herds. Results indicated that it could be advisable that legislation, rather than defining very detailed procedures both for laboratory tests and testing programmes, should establish minimal requirements in terms of efficacy of testing procedures (i.e. the probability of detecting an infected herd).