ABSTRACT
Brucellosis is the most important zoonotic disease not only in Albania but also in many other countries. Epidemiological and bacteriological data prove the presence of this infection in all farm animals and 10% of human serum analyzed resulted positive to brucellosis. The aim of the study is monitoring the epidemiological situation, evaluation of serological tests, isolation and identification of biotypes of Brucella in cattle complexes, and application of control/eradication strategy of this infection through the usage of vaccine with strain Brucella abortus RB51. To monitor the epidemiological situation and determining the prevalence of Brucella infection, were used these serological tests RB, RA and iELISA. Sensitivity, specificity and concordance of RB and RA tests were determined, using as standard test iELISA. Prevalence of infection from Brucella, resulted 38.4% and 21.8% respectively, while concordance of serological tests RB and RA resulted from 1 to 0.81 and 0.8 to 0.61 respectively. Based on the high level of abortions, isolation and bio characterization of Brucella like: Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis, high level of sera positivity, the level of sensitivity and specificity of serological tests, etiology of this infection and the physiological and health state of animals, serological tests were performed every 2 months, to eliminate the main source of infection. All heads that resulted positive with corroborative iELISA was eliminated through slaughtering after 15 days. Specific prophylaxis was applied, through vaccination associated with an increased level of bio-safety in cattle complexes for control/eradication of this infection. Strain Brucella abortus RB51 was selected, which induces no humoral antibodies to host, and gives the possibility of monitoring infectious antibodies, improving national strategy to eradicate this infection. Actually these complexes today are considered “practically free” by Brucella infection.
Keywords: Serological tests RB, RA, iELISA, Brucella abortus RB51.