Seroprevalence of Brucella canis Infection of Dogs in Two Provinces in Turkey

The aim of this study was the determination and comparative evaluation of the seroprevalence of Brucella canis infection in dog sera obtained from different dog shelters located in ‹stanbul and ‹zmir provinces by tube agglutination test (TAT), 2- mercapto-ethanol tube agglutination test (2ME-TAT) and ELISA. A total of 362 serum samples were obtained from 8 different dog shelters in ‹stanbul and ‹zmir provinces. The dogs were temporarily kept in these shelters. Of the 362 serum samples, 46 (12.7%), 28 (7.73%) and 27 (7.45%) were found to be positive by TAT, 2ME-TAT and ELISA, respectively. Dogs in 6 (75%) out of the 8 kennels were found to be positive for B. canis. The prevalence of seropositive animals were ranged between 5.26% and 31.57%, 5% and 17.54%, and 2.12 % and 15.78% by TAT, 2ME-TAT and ELISA tests, respectively. Amongst the 46 sera evaluated as positive by TAT, 18 (39.1%) and 19 (41.3%) were found to be negative by 2ME-TAT and ELISA tests, respectively. A 96.42% similarity was found between 2 ME-TAT and ELISA results. In conclusion, the tube agglutination test when used together with additional tests such as 2ME-TAT and ELISA would be useful in eliminating the false-positive results obtained in serological diagnosis of B. canis infection of dogs. Similar results were observed between 2ME-TAT and ELISA tests. Because B. canis antibodies were detected in sera of dogs from most of the shelters examined, it is concluded that preventive measures should be taken to eliminate B. canis from the entire dog population and carrier dogs should be kept separated from uninfected animals. The carrier dogs may also constitute a risk for human health. Ozet: Bu cal›flmada, farkl› kopek toplama unitelerinden toplanan serum orneklerinde Brucella canis infeksiyonunun seroprevalans›n›n tup aglutinasyon testi (TAT), 2-mercapto-ethanol—TAT (2ME-TAT) ve ELISA testi ile belirlenmesi ve sonuclar›n karfl›laflt›r›lmal› olarak deerlendirilmesi amaclanm›flt›r. Cal›flmada, ‹stanbul ve ‹zmir yoresinde, farkl› yerlerden toplanan kopeklerin gecici olarak bar›nd›klar›, 8 farkl› kopek toplama unitesinden toplanan, toplam 362 adet serum ornei kullan›ld›. ‹ncelenen 362 serum orneinin 46 (% 12,7)'s› TAT, 28 (% 7,73)'si 2ME-TAT ve 27 (% 7,45)'si ELISA ile pozitif bulundu. Serumlar›n elde edildii 8 toplama unitesinden 6 (% 75)'s›nda B. canis seropozitiflii saptand›. B. canis antikorlar› saptanan toplama unitelerinde, seroprevalans›n TAT ile % 5,26 ile % 31,57; 2ME-TAT ile % 5 ile % 17,54 ve ELISA testinde % 2,12 ile % 15,78 aras›nda deifltii saptand›. TAT ile pozitif deerlendirilen 46 serumun 18 (% 39,1)'i 2ME-TAT ve 19 (% 41,3)'u ELISA ile negatif bulundu. ME-TAT ile ELISA bulgular› ise % 96,42 oran›nda uyumlu bulundu. Sonuc olarak, kopeklerde B. canis infeksiyonlar›n›n serolojik teflhisinde kullan›lan tup aglutinasyon testinin, 2ME-TAT ve ELISA gibi ilave bir teflhis yontemiyle desteklenmesinin yanl›fl pozitifliin ortadan kald›r›lmas›nda yarar salayaca¤› ve 2ME-TAT ile ELISA bulgular›n›n birbirleri ile uyumlu olduu ortaya kondu. Ayr›ca, B. canis antikorlar›n›n incelenen toplama unitelerinin counda saptanmas›, kopeklerde B. canis infeksiyonlar›na karfl› koruma onlemlerinin al›nmas› gerekliliini ve bu infeksiyonun insan sal›¤› icin potansiyel bir tehlike olmaya devam ettiini gosterdi.