title: Analysis of 506 consecutive positive serologic tests for brucellosis in Saudi Arabia.
abstract: Brucellosis is common in the central region of Saudi Arabia. The major clue to the diagnosis is serologic testing. In 3 years, over 500 positive patients who had a titer of 1:160 or more were identified. Brucella species was the single organism most commonly recovered in all blood cultures, being found in 24% of patients with cultures positive for pathogenic bacteria. The expected greater number of Brucella cultures with high initial recorded titer was confirmed; 31% of the positive high-titer group had positive Brucella cultures. Conclusive correlation was uncommon below the 1:640 titer. The lower titers were less useful as indicators of active disease in this population, in which many people appear to have persistent low antibody levels.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012529:Saudi Arabia
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial