Comparison of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with other tests for brucellosis, using sera from experimentally infected heifers.
During an evaluation of H-38 Brucella melitensin vaccine, serum samples were collected from 24 Hereford-Angus heifers (nonvaccinated controls) before exposure and then 11 times between 12 and 102 days after exposure to Brucella 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 were 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.
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002417:Cattle; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques