Abstract:
Serology is primarily used in the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis. Bacterial culture and isolation
is the gold standard in diagnosing brucellosis but, like serology, it does not offer complete
(100%) diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been
suggested to offer better specificity and sensitivity. In this study, we evaluated the performance
of Brucella abortus species specific (BaSS) PCR directly from different samples in the diagnosis
of bovine brucellosis in naturally infected cattle in KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa
with known infectious status from culture. The BaSS PCR had a low diagnostic sensitivity
(DSe) of 70%, but was able to identify vaccine strains using abomasal fluid from aborted
foetuses and detect Brucella DNA from decomposing samples. The best sample for the BaSS
PCR was abomasal fluid.
