Serological and necropsy findings for rams infected with Brucella ovis which were not identified by the complement fixation test

Authors: Stafford KJ, Badcoe LM, Compton CWR, Hilbink F, Alley MR, West DM
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 41, Issue 2, pp 82-86, Jun 1993
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant, Sheep
Subject Terms: Bacterial, Disease/defect, Infectious disease, Clinical pathology, Diagnostic procedures, Notifiable organisms/exotic disease, Reproduction, Pathology, Zoonosis, Public health
Article class: Clinical Communication

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Abstract: The eradication of Brucella ovis from a commercial flock of 36 Romney rams was complicated by four infected rams remaining undetected despite four successive flock examinations using the complement fixation test. These four rams were subsequently tested using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a gel diffusion test and shown to be infected by semen culture. All four rams could have been identified as infected at the initial test if the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay had been used in addition to the complement fixation test. Although gross evidence of epididymitis was found in only one ram at necropsy, three had histological lesions of epididymitis and all four had a seminal vesiculitis.

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