Abstract:
The diagnostic sensitivity (DSe) of the Rose Bengal test (RBT), the complement fixation test
(CFT), the serum agglutination test (SAT), the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assay (cELISA) and the indirect ELISA (iELISA) were determined in naturally infected cattle in
KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa with known infectious status from culture (gold
standard). Natural brucellosis infection status of animals was determined by culturing and
identification of Brucella abortus biovar 1 from abomasal fluid, milk, hygroma fluid, lymph
nodes or uterine discharges samples. The diagnostic specificity (DSp) of the tests mentioned
above was determined using samples from known negative herds. There was no statistically
significant difference between the tests in their ability to diagnose brucellosis. The RBT and
iELISA had the highest DSe of 95.8%, whereas RBT and CFT had the highest DSp of 100%.
In South African laboratories, the RBT and CFT serological tests are used, because of the
cost efficacy of CFT when compared to the less labour intensive but more expensive iELISA.
