title: A serological diagnostic survey for Brucella canis infection in Turkish patients with Brucellosis-like symptoms.
abstract: The incidence of Brucella canis infection in humans is unknown in Turkey. In this  study, we investigated the prevalence of B. canis infection in human sera obtained from six regions  in Turkey and comparatively evaluated the results obtained by agglutination-based techniques using  standardized antigens made from B. canis. The patients (n = 1,746) presented with clinical symptoms  that were similar to those of brucellosis. All patients who tested negative in the Rose Bengal test  for the smooth Brucella strains (abortus, melitensis, and suis) were screened for evidence of B.  canis infection using the rapid slide agglutination test (RSAT), the microagglutination test (MAT),  and the 2-mercaptoethanol RSAT test (2ME-RSAT). Of the samples tested, 157 (8.9%), 68 (3.8%), and  66 (3.7%) were positive for B. canis, as determined by RSAT, MAT, and 2ME-RSAT, respectively. The  diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of  RSAT were 100%, 94.6%, 42%, and 100%, respectively, and of MAT were 100%, 99.9%, 97%, and 100%,  respectively. We recommend the routine use of MAT and 2ME-RSAT to check the sera of all patients  with symptoms of brucellosis who are negative for brucellosis using a smooth Brucella antigen.
authors: Faculty of Medicine, University of Kocaeli, Kocaeli, Turkey. sayanmurat＠hotmail.com
authors: Murat
authors: M
authors: Sayan
authors: Sevil
authors: S
authors: Erdenlig
authors: Judy
authors: J
authors: Stack
authors: Selcuk
authors: S
authors: Kilic
authors: Huseyin
authors: H
authors: Guducuoglu
authors: Yavuz
authors: Y
authors: Aksoy
authors: Ayhan
authors: A
authors: Baklan
authors: Nilay
authors: N
authors: Etiler
mesh_terms: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D041002:Brucella canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial