Bovine brucellosis diagnosis in milk by Ring Test and Elisa in dairy farms of Ñuble (VIII Region, Chile)

Abstract

ELISA and Ring Test were compared as diagnostic tests for bovine brucellosis in bulk tank refrigerated milk from 60 dairies in the Ñuble Province, VIII Region, Chile, from November to December. Samples were stratified according to the number of cows in the farm. Diagnosis obtained from both methods gave similar results: 18 positive and 42 negative. The difference was established in 5 samples (8.3%) that were classified as weak positive to the Ring Test and confirmed as positives by ELISA. Furthermore, it was determined that there was 30% prevalence of bovine brucellosis in dairies with refrigerated tanks in the Ñuble province. The ELISA proved to be a reliable diagnostic test of bovine brucellosis in bulk milk.