EVALUATION OF NORTH-AMERICAN ANTIBODY DETECTION TESTS FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BRUCELLOSIS IN GOATS

The sensitivities and specificities of 17 antibody detection tests for brucellosis in goats were estimated. Tests evaluated included the U.S . Department of Agriculture (USDA) card test with 8% cell concentratio n (8%Card), USDA rapid automated presumptive test (RAP), Mexican rose bengal plate tests with 8 and 3% cell concentrations (8%RB and 3%RB), French rose bengal plate test with 4.5% cell concentration (4.5%RB), U SDA standard plate test (SPT), USDA buffered acidified plate agglutina tion test (BAPA), USDA and Mexican rivanol tests (URIV and MRIV), USDA standard tube tests with Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis ant igens (SATA and SATM), serum enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) , USDA cold-fixation complement fixation tests with B. abortus and B. melitensis antigens (CFA and CRM), USDA and Mexican milk ring tests (U BRT and MBRT), and a milk ELISA. Test sensitivity was evaluated by usi ng two groups of 10 goats experimentally infected with B. melitensis o r B. abortus and monitored for 24 weeks. Specificity was evaluated by using 200 brucellosis-free nonvaccinated goats from 10 California herd s. The 3%RB was considered a good screening test because of high sensi tivity at week 24 postinfection (90%), ease of performance, and low co st. The cold-fixation CFA and CFM had 100% specificity in the field st udy and were considered appropriate confirmatory tests. The milk ELISA was significantly more sensitive (P < 0.05) than the UBRT and signifi cantly more specific (P < 0.05) than the MBRT. The milk ELISA also had the advantage of objectivity and ease of interpretation.