Comparative study between conventional and molecular tests to detect the incidence of brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes in Babylon and Karbala provinces

Objective: The aim of this study, comparative efficacy of three methods for detection of brucellosis which included Rose Bengal test, Milk Ring Test and polymerase chain reaction as well as isolation of Brucella in cattle and buffaloes. Methods: which have conducted from June to November 2017 on 141 of brucellosis suspected females, the samples were taken from blood, milk and vaginal swabs from farms in Babylon and Kerbala provinces. Results: All samples examination showed no significant differences (P>0.05) with highest positive result when our study had used (RBT) between cattle and buffaloes, the animals had positive results from 74 cattle and 67 buffaloes to give 42 and 33 positive results respectively . While by using multiplex PCR technique the number of positive results were lower than that gave by (RBT) which recorded significant differences result with other tests , beside that the infected cases gave 31 and 19 isolates of B. abortus while there were no isolates and 5 isolates of B. melitansis for cattle and buffalo, respectively. The results showed there is no significant differences in positive results by using (MRT) between cattle and buffaloes and when compare it with other tests. as well as the results showed there is no significant differences in positive results by using culture between blood samples, milk samples and vaginal swabs and when compare it with PCR. Conclusion: The results of RBT, MRT and culture in cattle and buffaloes suggested that these tests may be used for fast routine screening of herds but the confirmatory diagnosis should attempt by using molecular technique PCR test of brucellosis in individual animals. In addition that PCR the more reliable test important to detect the type of Brucella (abortus or melitansis) which cannot detected by using the other tests.