RELATIVE VALUE OF AGGLUTINATION TEST COMPLEMENT FIXATION TEST AND COOMBS (ANTIGLOBULIN) TEST IN DETECTION OF BRUCELLA MELITENSIS INFECTION IN SHEEP

A comparison has been made of three serological tests on 60 proved infected sheep and on 3,323 sheep in Brucella-free flocks, both unvaccinated, to determine the value of the antiglobulin (AGT) or Coombs test, the complement fixation test (CFT) using a plastic plate rapid method which gives 50 per cent. haemolysis at a 1 120 dilution of the International anti-Brucella abortus serum, and a serum agglutination test (SAT) using a tube method which gives 50 per cent. agglutination at 1 500 with the International Serum. The dilution of 1 120 refers to the original ISAb Serum and not to the replacement International Serum to be issued soon. In unvaccinated animals the diagnostic criteria for these tests are suggested. Animals which give a positive result to the AGT at 1 10, to the CFT at 1 4 or to the SAT at 1 20 (40 IU/ml.) are classed as reactors. Animals which give a positive result to the CFT at 1 2 or to the SAT at 1 10 (20 IU/ml.) are classed as suspicious. © 1968.