Evaluation of a PCR test for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in semen samples from rams

• Published in: Veterinary microbiology 2003-03, Vol.92 (1), p.65-72
• Main Authors: Manterola, L, Tejero-Garcés, A, Ficapal, A, Shopayeva, G, Blasco, J.M, Marin, C.M, López-Goñi, I
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal bacterial diseases; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Brucella - genetics; Brucella - isolation & purification; Brucella ovis; Brucellosis; Brucellosis - diagnosis; Brucellosis - microbiology; Brucellosis - veterinary; Complement Fixation Tests; Diagnosis bacteria; DNA Transposable Elements - genetics; DNA, Bacterial - chemistry; DNA, Bacterial - genetics; Immunodiffusion; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; PCR; Polymerase Chain Reaction - methods; Polymerase Chain Reaction - veterinary; Semen - microbiology; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sheep; Sheep bacteria; Sheep Diseases - diagnosis; Sheep Diseases - microbiology
• ISSN: 0378-1135; 1873-2542
• DOI: 10.1016/S0378-1135(02)00310-3

The sensitivity and specificity of a PCR assay with primers derived from the insertion sequence IS 6501 was compared with that of bacteriological culture and serological tests for the diagnosis of Brucella ovis infection in rams. No amplifications were detected with DNAs from the strains phylogenetically related to Brucella and from the seven bacterial species considered as the main etiologic agents of epididymitis in rams. In addition, the specificity of the PCR was 100% when testing semen samples from Brucella-free rams. The comparison of the semen culture and PCR results from 192 semen samples tested, showed a proportion of agreement of 0.91 between both tests. The PCR-based test described has sensitivity similar to that of semen culture and could be used as a complementary test for the direct diagnosis of Brucella ovis in semen samples of rams.