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

East Mediterr Health J. 2003 Jan-Mar;9(1-2):178-84.

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 > or = 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 > or = 1:80 in the presence of 2ME titre > or = 1:20 can be diagnostic in this region.

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs* / statistics & numerical data
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Agglutination Tests
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood*
  • Brucella / immunology*
  • Brucellosis / blood
  • Brucellosis / epidemiology*
  • Brucellosis / immunology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Food Microbiology
  • Humans
  • Iran / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Meat / microbiology
  • Mercaptoethanol
  • Middle Aged
  • Milk / microbiology
  • Occupational Diseases / blood
  • Occupational Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / immunology
  • Population Surveillance
  • Risk Factors
  • Rose Bengal
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Antibodies, Bacterial
  • Rose Bengal
  • Mercaptoethanol