title: Brucellosis in man. I. Serological diagnosis.
abstract: 50 Blood samples were collected from in-patients with febrile splenomegaly suspected to be Malta fever, in Sharkia fever hospitals; Egypt. The samples were subjected to serological tests (tube agglutination, Widal & Coombs) for diagnosis of brucellosis. The results of tube agglutination (TAT) revealed that 5 (10%) were positive; the titre ranging from 1/80-1/320, 3 doubtful (1/40) and 42 negative (1/20, 1/10 and no agglutination). Results of the Coombs test on negative and doubtful of TAT showed that out of 45 patients; 3 (6.66%) were positive; the titre ranging from 1/80-1/160, one doubtful and 41 negative. Coombs test improved the titre of one positive case of TAT from 1/320-1/640. Results of serological tests (TAT & Coombs) for MALTA fever were 8 (16%); the titre ranging from 1/80-1/640, one doubtful (1/40) and 41 negative. Results of the Widal test to detect Enteric fever in the way of differential diagnosis were 7 (14%) positive out of 50 patients examined; the titre ranging from 1/80-1/160. Five of them agglutinated typhoid (O&M) suspensions. One of the sera agglutinated paratyphi A (H) suspension, the remaining one serum agglutinated paratyphi. B(H) suspension and none of the sera agglutinated paratyphi. C(H) suspension. All the positive Coombs and negative Widal cases were obtained against typhoid (O) suspension and none against any of the (H) suspensions; Coombs test was positive in two (4.65) of 43 patients negative to Widal; no improvement of titre in the positive Widal. Results of Widal & Coombs to detect Enterica were 9 (18%) positive and 41 negative.
mesh_terms: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012482:Salmonella paratyphi A / Q000276:immunology; D012484:Salmonella paratyphi B / Q000276:immunology; D012479:Salmonella paratyphi C / Q000276:immunology; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000276:immunology; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000175:diagnosis; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial