A serological survey of bovine brucellosis in India.

A serological survey of brucellosis in cattle and buffalo was performed in 23 States of India. A total of 30,437 bovine samples, comprising 23,284 cattle and 7,153 buffalo (Bubalus bubalis), were screened. The screening initially used the rose bengal plate test: doubtful and positive samples were then titrated in the serum tube agglutination test. The overall prevalence rate of antibodies was 1.9% in cattle and 1.8% in buffalo. In a detailed study of 47 organised farms in the southern State of Karnataka, 207 of 4,995 (4.1%) serum samples from cattle showed titres for brucellosis. This result was in contrast to the low rate of seropositive results reported in cattle owned by individual farmers in Karnataka (0.7% of 2,424 serum samples). In organised farms with a history of abortion, placenta retention and repeat breeding, the prevalence rate was 17%.