Comparative Diagnostic Efficacy of Commonly used Serological Assays for Brucellosis

Brucellosis is a popular, zoonotic disease that has detrimental implications on human, animal, and economic health. This study compared the efficiency and effectiveness of various serological tests for the seroprevalence of brucellosis in cattle in four Egyptian governorates, including the buffered acidified plate antigen (BAPA) assay, Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (i-ELISA), and competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA). A total of 240 sera samples were collected from asymptomatic cattle from Cairo (n = 58), Ismailia (n = 62), Beni Suif (n = 60), and Fayom (n = 60) in Egypt. According to PABA, RBT, i-ELISA, and c-ELISA assay results, the overall prevalence of brucellosis was 141 (58.75%), 141 (58.75%), 169 (70.4%), and 160 (66.66%), respectively. i-ELISA as the gold standard: the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of RBT were evaluated as 99, 70 and 59%, respectively with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 95 to 100%, 60 to 79% and 52 to 65%. While considering c-ELISA as the gold standard: the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of RBT were evaluated as 100, 81 and 59%, respectively with a 95% CI of 97 to 100%, 72 to 88% and 52 to 65%, respectively. In conclusion, both ELISA tests were proven to be superior serological tests than PABA and RBPT, and they may be suggested for use in Egypt in screening cattle for brucellosis. A national campaign to control and prevent brucellosis should also get underway to lower its incidence. To do this, veterinary practitioners and cattle owners should exert more effort to inform the public about the economic effects and zoonotic potential of the disease.