The Brucella Ovis Complement Fixation Test

Abstract

Extract

Sir:- For the effective control of ovine brucellosis it is imperative that veterinarians have both a sound knowledge of all aspects of the disease and access to reliable diagnostic tests. In recent years there have been a number of submissions to this journal, concerning the accuracy and use of the Brucella ovis complement fixation test, which have contributed to modifications being made to the test procedure, and we now have available a relatively reliable serological test.(3) However, it is important to maintain a constant check on both the sensitivity (few false negatives) and the specificity (few false positives) of the test. In infected flocks the sensitivity of the test is important, but of equal concern is that the test be highly specific. False positive reactions can result in a considerable waste of veterinarians' and clients' time, money and patience to establish that falsely reacting rams are not infected. Worse, these reactions may result in the hasty culling of a non-diseased ram. This becomes of increasing concern as the disease prevalence decreases and more flocks become accredited as free from brucellosis.