Development and standardization of a western blotting test for detection of antibodies against B. abortus

ABSTRACT Brucellosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella spp. with diagnosis based on use of serological techniques. The present study aimed to develop and standardize a western blotting (WB) test for detection of antibodies against B. abortus. Samples from two groups of cattle were analyzed: group I: 60 serum samples from true positive and true negative vaccinated animals (30 positive samples from infected animals according to rose bengal test (RBT), 2-mercaptoethanol, serum agglutination test (SAT) and complement fixation test (CFT) and 30 RBT negatives samples); group II: 383 field samples (90 positive and 293 CFT negative sera). The most reactive band in the western blotting, which properly identified and separated infected from non - infected had a molecular weight of ≤ 20kDa. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the WB compared to RBT was 93%, 99%, 98%, respectively and k= 0.938. When compared to CFT, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the WB was 97%, 98% and 97%, respectively and k= 0.929. The WB developed and standardized in the present study is a serological test with potential use as a confirmatory test for the diagnosis of bovine brucellosis

Avaliação in vitro da eficácia de acaricidas sobre Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) de bovinos no município de Ilhéus, Bahia, Brasil In vitro valuation of acaricides efficiency to Boophilus microplus (Canestrini, 1887) (Acari: Ixodidae) from bovines at the region of Ilhéus, Bahia, Brazil

O carrapato Boophilus microplus é a espécie de maior distribuição geográfica e importância econômica para os países produtores de bovinos em áreas tropicais e sub-tropicais do planeta. No Brasil, a Região Nordeste apresenta algumas áreas mais favoráveis para as infestações do gado. O controle químico ainda é a forma mais eficaz de combate deste ectoparasita, mas o manejo inadequado dos acaricidas tem contribuído com o aparecimento de resistência de populações aos produtos disponíveis no mercado. O município de Ilhéus, na Região Cacaueira da Bahia, vem incrementando sua atividade pecuária em substituição à lavoura cacaueira devastada. Foram realizados 30 testes de imersão in vitro (biocarrapaticidogramas) com fêmeas ingurgitadas de B. microplus colhidas em propriedades rurais aleatoriamente selecionadas num grupo de 96 entrevistadas na região. O estudo revelou a existência de resistência ou sensibilidade de populações de B. microplus frente aos carrapaticidas de contato mais utilizados nas propriedades de exploração pecuária da região de Ilhéus. Os quatro carrapaticidas testados apresentaram as seguintes eficiências médias: Amitraz - 30,95%; Deltametrina - 65,04%; Cipermetrina / diclorvos - 75,73%; e Triclorfon / coumaphos / cyfluthrin - 75,13%.<br>The tick Boophilus microplus is the species with the greatest geographical distribution and economic importance for the countries situated at tropical and sub-tropical zones of the planet. In Brazil, the Northwest Region is showed as the most favorable to the cattle infestation. Chemical control is an efficient control method employed, but the inadequate handling of acaricides contributed for to the onset of resistant ticks to the available acaricides in the market. The county of Ilhéus, at the Cocoa's Region from Bahia, has been increasing the cattle activity instead of the devastated cocoa's plantations. Between April and September 2000, in vitro imersion tests were performed with engorged females of B. microplus collected from 30 farms randomly chosen in a group of 96 interviewed at the region. The current study showed the existence of resistance or sensibility of the populations of B. microplus to the contact acaricides commonly used at cattle properties of the region of Ilhéus. The four acaricides tested showed the following levels of efficiency: Amidin - 30.95%; Deltamethrin - 65.04%; Cipermethrin / diclorvos - 75.73%; and Triclorfon / coumaphos / cyfluthrin - 75.13%