Detection of Brucella abortus antigens by immunoperoxidase histochemical staining of lochia smears.

An immunoperoxidase histochemical staining technique for the detection of Brucella abortus organisms in lochia of brucellosis-infected cows was described. In comparison with the standard culture technique, the former method resulted in 36% false positive and 2.3% false negative reactions, which represents a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 94%. False positive reactions are presumably the result of organisms which succumbed during transit. The feasibility of the test in the confirmation of brucellosis is discussed.