Prevalence of antibody to Brucella species in butchers, slaughterers and others

Abstract

Brucellosis is being reported with increasing frequency in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Serum antibodies in high-risk and general populations help to define cut-off levels and can be used as a simple and rapid diagnostic tests in infected areas. We performed the rose Bengal test [‎RBT]‎, serum agglutination test [‎SAT]‎ and 2-mercaptoethanol [‎2ME]‎ titre determination on 415 healthy individuals including butchers, slaughterers and others. Positive results were found by RBT, SAT titre [‎1:80]‎ and 2ME titre >/= 1:20 in slaughterers [‎10%, 20% and 6% respectively]‎, butchers [‎6%, 4% and 1% respectively]‎ and the general population [‎1%, 2% and < 1% respectively]‎. A single SAT titre >/= 1:80 in the presence of 2ME titre >/= 1:20 can be diagnostic in this region