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Page No. : 95-98

ABSTRACT

Efficacy of Brucella abortus-specific IS711 PCR assay in direct detection of B. abortus from blood and milk samples of naturally infected buffaloes and from blood and milk spiked with B. abortus was evaluated. The PCR assay amplifying IS711 genetic element of Brucella genome was optimized using standard B. abortus 544 strain. Examination of blood samples of 20 animals including 9serologically positive animals derived from the herds with the history of abortions revealed B. abortus specific amplification product of 498 bp in 11 (55%) blood samples. However, none of the milk samples from serologically positive as well as negative animals generated B. abortus specific amplification product. The minimum limit of detection of B. abortus from spiked blood sample by IS711 PCR was found to be 20,000 CFU/ml, while that from milk samples was 1000 CFU/ ml.

Keywords: Blood, Brucella abortus, IS711 PCR, milk