Rapid diagnosis of ovine Brucella, Campylobacter and Salmonella infections from fetal stomach contents by coagglutination test

Abstract A coagglutination test (CT) was developed to detect Brucella , Campylobacter and Salmonella antigens in stomach contents of 58 aborted sheep fetuses and compared with conventional culture techniques. Brucella melitensis , Campylobacter fetus and Salmonella abortus ovis were isolated from 31 (53.4%), 13 (22.4%) and 4 (6.9%) fetuses, respectively. Thirty-five of the fetal stomach contents were positive with the CT test, including 19 (61.3%) with Brucella , 12 (92.3%) with Campylobacter and 4 (100%) with Salmonella CT tests, respectively. Seven samples were negative with all three CT reagents. Cross-reactions were seen with C ampylobacter CT (11 samples) and S almonella CT (six samples). The sensitivity and specificity of the CT tests were 61 and 80% for Brucella , 92 and 80% for Campylobacter , and 100 and 90% for Salmonella , respectively. The CT was found to be technically simple and rapid in diagnosing Salmonella , Campylobacter or Brucella infections by comparison with conventional culture methods.