title: Serological response of cattle to Brucella allergen after repeated intradermal applications of this allergen.
abstract: A study was conducted to determine whether an allergen that has been prepared from a mucoid strain of Brucella abortus triggers a serum antibody response that interferes with the interpretation of serologic tests results. Fifteen cattle seronegative for Brucella antigen were tested with the SDTH test several times. Blood samples were collected weekly and tested with the serum agglutination test and complement fixation test. Results show that some cattle tested seronegative after each of the SDTH tests while other cattle tested weakly positive with the serum agglutination test or the complement fixation test. All seropositive cattle tested seronegative 4-7 weeks after the last SDTH test indicating an antibody response of a transient nature. We conclude that serologic tests results indicating infection are reliable when recorded four weeks after a single SDTH test. If cattle are tested with the SDTH test several times an interval of seven weeks should be observed after the last test to ensure a reliable interpretation of the serologic test results.
authors.affiliation: Animal Health Service, Boxtel, Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Muskens
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Bercovich
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Damen
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000485:Allergens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D002003:Brucella abortus / Q000276:immunology*; D002417:Cattle; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D005260:Female; D007428:Intradermal Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; C005641:brucellin