DIAGNOSIS OF BRUCELLOSIS IN LOW TITRED BUFFALOES

A total of 452 serum samples collected from non-vaccinated buffaloes were subjected to serological tests by using Rose Bengal Plate Agglutination Test (RBPT), Slow Tube Agglutination Test (SAT) and _ indirect ELISA (iELISA) detected 12.83%, 11.28% and 19.25% positive samples for brucellosis respectively. The relative sensitivity of RBPT and SAT. was found 62.07% and 55.17%, respectively, considering iELISA as a gold standard test while the specificity was found 98.90% in RBPT and 99.18% in SAT; the overall agreement of RBPT and SAT with iELISA was 91.81% and 90.71%, respectively. Twenty one isolates out of 61 B.melitensis biovar 3 were isolated from buffaloes serologically positive to iELISA but negative to SAT of low titre ranged from 1:10 to 1:40. Therefore, iELISA was found to be a better serological test as compared with RBPT and SAT and it could be advocated for screening of brucellosis among buffaloes as will as the suspicious and /or the latent infectious cases.