Comparative diagnosis of brucellosis by serological and molecular methods

Abstract

Brucellosis is an infectious disease that limits livestock development and greatly affects the livestock economy, being considered one of the most important and widely distributed zoonoses worldwide. Early diagnosis of this disease is an essential tool in its control and eradication. The methods recognized by NOM-041-ZOO-1995, such as the card test and complement fixation, present limitations in the diagnosis, compared to the PCR molecular technique. In the present work, a comparative diagnosis of Brucella spp. was performed by PCR amplification of the gene coding for a protein located in the outer membrane (Omp2a) of Brucella spp. and serological tests in blood, milk and cheese samples from goats and cattle. The results showed a higher sensitivity in the detection by PCR technique, while the card test and complement fixation showed inconsistencies due to the occurrence of false positives and negatives. Based on the results, it is suggested to include the PCR technique in the Mexican Official Standard as an objective alternative in the routine diagnosis of brucellosis.