Analysis index

Antibody demonstration: 1 ml serum

Pathogen detection: Blood cultures

When sending blood cultures with suspected brucella, please contact the laboratory beforehand by telephone.

EIA-IgG: < 20 – 30 U/ml

EIA-IgA: < 10 – 15 U/ml

EIA-IgM: < 15 – 20 U/ml

Suspicion of brucellosis, undulant or intermittent fever with general feeling of sickness.

The responsible health authorities will be informed in accordance with § 7.

Brucellosis is a typical zoonosis; incidence is worldwide. Endemic regions: The Mediterranean, Middle East, Arabian Peninsula, Central- and South America, Asia and Africa; in Germany livestock has been officially declared free from cattle brucellosis, sheep- and goat brucellosis since 2000; infection predominantly by non-pasteurized or unheated animal products; no human-to-human transmission.

When sending blood cultures for direct pathogen detection, it is vital, that the laboratory is informed of the suspected clinical diagnosis of brucellosis! Brucella are highly contagious and difficult to cultivate. On suspicion of brucellosis, cultivation for up to 3 weeks may be necessary, whereby 95 % are already positive after 7 days. Due to the difficult direct demonstration, serology is recommended: In case of normal immune response, approximately one week after infection, IgM-antibodies are seen, in the second week IgG-antibodies appear, with the highest titers being reached 4 weeks after disease onset. Approximately 85 % of brucellosis cases in Germany are diagnosed serologically.

Further information at www.rki.de