Serological and bacteriological detection of Brucella canis infection of stray dogs in Moreno, Argentina.

A focus of B. canis infection was identified in Moreno, Argentina, among the stray dog population by serologic methods and confirmed in a second survey which included cultural isolations. A counterimmunoelectrophoresis technique using a specific rough Brucella surface antigen was applied to the serodiagnosis of canine brucellosis. This method was found to be as effective as the mercaptoethanol tube agglutination test and the gel diffusion test in detecting B. canis antibodies in natural and experimentally infected animals. The results are discussed in terms of the diagnostic significance of the three tests employed.