Prevalence of antibody to Brucella species in butchers, slaughterers and others

ABSTRACT

Brucellosis is being reported with increasing frequency in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Serum antibodies in high-risk and general populations help to define cut-off levels and can be used as a simple and rapid diagnostic tests in infected areas. We performed the rose Bengal test [RBT], serum agglutination test [SAT] and 2-mercaptoethanol [2ME] titre determination on 415 healthy individuals including butchers, slaughterers and others. Positive results were found by RBT, SAT titre [180] and 2ME titre >/= 120 in slaughterers [10%, 20% and 6% respectively], butchers [6%, 4% and 1% respectively] and the general population [1%, 2% and < 1% respectively]. A single SAT titre >/= 180 in the presence of 2ME titre >/= 120 can be diagnostic in this region