Detection of the antigens of the causative agent of brucellosis by an immunoenzyme method

: The conditions of the enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Brucella antigens have been selected, making it possible to detect these antigens both in solutions and in biological material within 3-4 hours. In guinea pigs infected with B. abortus 99 in a dose of 1,000 microbial cells, brucellar antigen has been detectable in the organs and blood serum of the animals as early as 24 hours after infection. This assay, if carried out under the optimal conditions, detects soluble brucellar polysaccharide antigen at a concentration of 1 ng/ml and Brucellae at a concentration of 5 X 10(4) microbial cells/ml in the presence of 200-fold surplus of other bacterial cells.