Premium
Comparison of culture and PCR for the detection of Brucella melitensis in blood and lymphoid tissues of serologically positive and negative slaughtered sheep
Author(s) -
Ilhan Z.,
Aksakal A.,
Ekin I.H.,
Gülhan T.,
Solmaz H.,
Erdenlig S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2007.02309.x
Subject(s) - brucella melitensis , biology , brucellosis , brucella , virology , microbiology and biotechnology , lymphatic system , blood culture , immunology , antibiotics
Aims: To compare the culture and PCR methods for detection of Brucella melitensis in blood and lymphoid tissue samples obtained from slaughtered sheep ( n = 162) testing positive/negative in serological tests (Rose Bengal test and serum agglutination test). Methods and Results: Of 162 sheep examined, 45 were positive and 117 negative in serological tests. A PCR assay based on a pair of Br. melitensis ‐specific primers was used to detect DNA in blood and lymphoid tissue. Brucella melitensis was isolated from 1·2% (2/162) and 17·2% (28/162) of the blood and lymphoid tissue samples respectively. Positive PCR products with a molecular size of 731 bp were obtained from 27·7% (45/162) of blood and 29·0% (47/162) of lymphoid tissue samples. Conclusions: The species‐specific PCR assay detected a higher number of Br. melitensis DNA both from serologically positive ( P < 0·01 in blood PCR, P < 0·001 in tissue PCR) and serologically negative ( P < 0·001 in both blood PCR and tissue PCR) sheep compared with classical bacteriological culture methods. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results emphasize the importance of using more than one type of diagnostic technique for the detection of animals positive for brucellosis, especially with epidemiological purposes.