title: Field trial of six serological tests for bovine brucellosis.
abstract: Serum agglutination (SAT), complement fixation (CFT), indirect ELISA (iELISA), competitive ELISA (cELISA), Rose Bengal (RBT) and EDTA-modified agglutination (EDTA) tests were used in parallel on serological samples from 19,935 cattle in 301 herds. The study herds were selected according to putative exposure to Brucellaabortus with cases defined by bacteriological culture or test agreement. No single test identified all infected cattle and, at diagnostic thresholds, relative sensitivity was highest in the iELISA (67.9%) or RBT (78.1%), using bacteriological culture or test agreement, respectively, to define cases. As screening tests, the relative sensitivity of the SAT was highest (75.9% by culture or 84.9% by test agreement), with an optimal threshold of 31 IU. The relative specificity of the diagnostic tests ranged from 99.6% (SAT 31IU) to 100% (iELISA, RBT and CFT). The trial confirmed the value of the SAT as a screening test and the value of parallel testing.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dundonald House, Belfast BT4 3SB, UK. Darrell.abernethy@dardni.gov.uk
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Abernethy
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Menzies
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.forename: S W J
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: McDowell
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Burns
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greiner
authors.forename: D U
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Pfeiffer
mesh_terms: D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002007:Brucellosis, Bovine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary*; D004492:Edetic Acid; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D009660:Northern Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012395:Rose Bengal; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D012395:Rose Bengal; D004492:Edetic Acid