Brucellosis 2003 proceedings - PHIDIAS

Poster Session
1- VALIDATION OF DIAGNOSTIC TESTS TO DETECT BRUCELLOSIS AND
EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEY IN THE ECUADORIAN ANDES.
J. Ron 1,4 , J. Godfroid 2 , C. Saegerman 3 , K. Walravens 2 , W. Benítez 1 , J. Brandt 4 , L. Utterhaegen 2 , C. De
Smedt 2 , P. Michel 2 and D. Berkvens 4 . (1) Universidad Central del Ecuador, Centro Internacional de
Zoonosis. Quito, Ecuador. (2) Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Center. Brussels, Belgium. (3)
Ministry of Health, Consumer’s protection and Environment. Brussels, Belgium. (4) "Prince Leopold"
Institute of Tropical Medicine, Department of Animal Health, Antwerpen, Belgium.
An epidemiological survey to determine the prevalence of brucellosis in cattle
and farm workers was carried out in 23 farms in the Ecuadorian Andes between
October 2002 and April 2003. Sera from dairy cattle (n = 516) and humans (n = 98)
were tested with Rose Bengal (RB), Slow Agglutination of Wright (SAW), with EDTA,
Complement Fixation test (CFT) and indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
(iELISA). In addition, the brucellosis skin test (ST) using the purified allergen
(Brucellergen, Synbiotics) was applied to the animals. Bacteriology was preformed
on 103 (27 animals) milk samples collected in infected farms.
Bayesian analysis using the results of four tests (RB, SAW-EDTA, ELISA and
ST) performed in animals guaranteed not vaccinated (n = 99) was carried out. Given
a ST specificity of 100%, the animal prevalence rate was estimated to lie between
35% and 40%. Estimated test sensitivity and specificity were respectively 0.84 and 1
(ST), 0.47 and 0.87 (iELISA), 0.58 and 0.85 (SAW-EDTA), 0.40 and 0.90 (RB).
Brucella abortus biotype 4 was isolated in the milk of 4 animals. One of these
samples originated from a B19 vaccinated cow, boosted with RB51. Six persons,
living on the infected farms were seropositive for SAW-EDTA, iELISA and CFT. The
official record of 183 human cases reported between 1960 and 2000, underlines the
possible under reporting of human brucellosis in Ecuador.
Our results will help the “Centro Internacional de Zoonosis” CIZ to formulate
recommendations to the “Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganaderia” and the “Ministerio
de Salud Pública” with respect to diagnosis and prevention of brucellosis in Ecuador.
2- SURVEILLANCE AND MONITORING OF BRUCELLOSIS IN SLOVENIA.
M. Štukelj. University of Ljubljana. Veterinary Faculty. Institute for pig diseases. Slovenia.
Brucellosis is an infectious disease that has been widespread world-wide.
Brucellosis is usually caused by Brucella abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis.
Brucellosis is manifested by abortion, retained placenta, orchitis, epididymitis (O.I.E.
Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines. 2000).
Brucellosis in Slovenia is under systematic monitoring and control for years.
The monitoring and control are part of annual Order of Ministry of Agriculture, forestry
and food of Slovenia. In year 2002 we started with the programme to qualify Slovenia
as country free from bovine brucellosis. According to Order 2002 for brucellosis were
tested all cattle over 12 months of age except fattening animals, all bulls, all milk
producing sheep and goats, all he-goats and rams, all boars and representative
sample of breeding sows from selection farms.
In year 2002 were tested 275.611 cattle, 1062 goats, 196 he-goats, 3148
sheep, 938 rams and 2690 pigs in Rose Bengal test (RB). Used tests for serological
diagnosis of brucellosis were RB, complement fixation test (CFT), c and Ab ELISA
were used. All samples were tested in RB. In CFT were tested all positive sera in RB
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