ABSTRACT
The objective of the present study was to compare two tests commonly applied in brucellosis diagnosis in bovine serum, 2-Mercaptoethanol (2-ME) and Complement Fixation Test (RFC'). Both tests have been chosen as confirmatory means by the National Program Against Bovine Brucellosis of the Brazilian Agriculture Ministry [Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento]. In the trial, 77 serum samples from vaccinated female bovines (group A), 24 months old or older, and 74 samples from non-vaccinated females (group B) were analyzed. These 151 samples came from five Brazilian states. RFC’ identified 40.2% reactor animals for group A and 35.1% for group B. Statistical comparison of the results was performed by the MCNEMAR test, with a 5% confidence interval. There was no statistically significant difference between the results. The KAPPA test was used as an agreement measure between the tests and the result was 91.9% for group A and 88.5% for group B. Based on these data, the sensitivity, specificity, and agreement between 2-ME and RFC' were analyzed. Sensitivity of 2-ME was 96.8% and 100%, and specificity was 95.6% and 91.7%. The 2-ME test is a good confirmatory test for the serological diagnosis of the bovine brucellosis, besides presenting adequated sensitivity, as seen in this trial.
KEY WORDS:
Bovine brucellosis; 2-Mercapthoetanol; Complement Fixation Test; serum diagnosis.