Evaluation of the allergic test in diagnosis of brucellosis in sheep.

In this investigation the Brucellizate was used as an allergen at a dose of 0.25 ml, injected into the lower eyelid, intrapalpebral for the detection of sheep brucellosis in Iran. Four hundred and thirty sheep were tested by the intrapalpebral allergic test (IPAT). In addition to this test, serum samples from the sheep were subjected to Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), serum agglutination test (SAT), complement fixation test (CFT) and mercaptoethanol test (MET). Sixty five sheep giving reactions to the IPAT and serological tests were selected for slaughter and subsequent culture of lymph nodes. The results of IPAT and of the serological tests were compared with each other and that of Brucella organism isolated in culture. According to this study, the IPAT is more sensitive than the serological tests in the detection of infected sheep, but CFT is more specific than other tests. It is concluded that IPAT is a reliable screening test, provided that the test is periodically repeated.