A quantitative comparison of the sensitivity of serological tests for bovine brucellosis to different antibody classes

Abstract

Brucella-specific antibodies of different immunoglobulin classes were quantitatively evaluated with respect to their efficiency in serological tests for bovine brucellosis. IgM reacted more efficiently than IgG1 and IgG2 in both the Rose Bengal plate test and serum agglutination test. The complement fixation test was found to be slightly more sensitive to IgM than to IgG1 and did not react to IgG2. IgM was, however, partly inactivated when heated at 60 degrees C. in the presence of serum.

A modified radioimmunoassay for antibodies against Brucella abortus

“…Antigen was the Standardized B. abortus Agglutination Concentrate (Alton, Jones & Pietz, 1975) IgG, and IgG2 were purified for bovine sera positive to the CFT (Anon., 1977) as described by Allan et al (1976). Pools of bovine sera negative to the Rose Bengal 1 HYG 88 plate test or to the modified RIA were made.…”

Radioimmunoassay for antibodies againstBrucella abortus: a new serological test for bovine brucellosis

“…IgG1, IgG2 and IgM were purified from sera, and their purity and identity established, as described by Allan, Chappel, Williamson & McNaught (1976).…”

“…abortus was estimated by adsorbing radioiodinated antibody onto excess antigen (Allan et al 1976). This was called the Brucella-specific percentage.…”

“…The RBPT was performed as described by Allan et al (1976). The CFT was performed by a micro-method Tubes were capped and incubated at 370 C. overnight.…”

“…It follows that the RIA, which is insensitive to IgM, is unlikely to be influenced by residual vaccination titres. In contrast, the RBPT and SAT are each ten times as sensitive to IgM as to IgG on a weight basis (Allan et al 1976). The CFT is at least as sensitive to purified IgM as to IgG1.…”