A quantitative comparison of the sensitivity of serological test for bovine brucellosis to different antibody classes

Brucella-specific antibodies of different immunoglobulin classes were quantitatively evaluated with respect to their efficiency in serological tests for bovine brucellosis. IgM reacted more efficiently than IgG1 and IgG2 in both the Rose Bengal plate test and serum agglutination test. The complement fixation test was found to be slightly more sensitive to IgM than to IgG1 and did not react to IgG2. IgM was, however, partly inactivated when heated at 60 degrees C. in the presence of serum.