Usefulness of Urine as a Sample for Detection of Brucella Spp in Male Canines

Usefulness of Urine as a Sample for Detection of Brucella Spp in Male Canines

Urine was used as a sample and Sensitivity (S), Specificity (Sp) and the positive Likelihood Ratio (LR+) of molecular and serological methods, combined with epidemiology and the clinical symptoms for detection of Brucella spp., were compared in blood and urine samples from 241 male canines. The rapid slide agglutination test together with 2- mercaptoethanol (2-ME RSAT) were used as a screening test, followed by confirmation using an indirect immunoenzymatic assay (iELISA) and bacteriological culture. Results were as follows: Test a) PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) of blood compared to blood culture: S 80%, Sp 92%, LR+ 10.32% (CI 5.27-19.20) test b) iELISA compared to blood culture: S 100%, Sp 94%, LR+: 16.57%) (CI 9.97-27.53), test c) PCR of urine compared to urine culture: S 100%, Sp 93% (CI 8.36-21.56), LR+: 13.64 test d) iELISA compared to urine culture: S 100%, Sp 93%, RV+: 14.5 (CI 9.03-23.26). We conclude that molecular and serological tests in conjunction with epidemiology are both useful for diagnosis and that both blood and urine samples should be assayed together.