Agglutination test for brucellosis

AGGLUTINATION TEST FOR BRUCELLOSIS

  • This is a serological test based on the principle of antigen (dead bacteria) and antibody (agglutinins present in the body fluids, mainly serum of infected animals) reaction, resulting in agglutination of bacteria.
  • When the agglutinins present in the serum and other body fluids of animals suffering with brucellosis or carriers is added to a suspension of killed culture of Brucella abortus organisms, the latter will cluster together; the reaction being known as agglutination.
  • Healthy animal in which agglutinins are absent, do not show such agglutinations.
  • There are two types of agglutination tests
    • Rapid plate agglutination, which can be done at the site of the animal and
    • Standard Tube Agglutination Test, which can be done in a laboratory.
  • Agglutination can be conducted using whole blood, serum, milk, whey, semen, etc. Stockmen can only attempt to collect sterile samples of blood (from jugular vein) or milk of their animals periodically (say once in a year) and get them tested in the nearest laboratory. All positive reactors to the test should promptly be eliminated from the herd.
Last modified: Thursday, 5 April 2012, 10:06 AM