Kinetics of the antibody response in ewes experimentally infected with Brucella melitensis biovar 3

The authors evaluated the kinetics of antibody response in 46 ewes coming from officially brucellosis free flocks that were experimentally infected with Brucella melitensis biovar 3, and monitored through three subsequent reproductive cycles. In this study, results of Rose Bengal test (RBT) and complement fixation test (CFT) were considered. Test results of 2nd and 3rd reproductive cycle show a peak in the antibody production at parturition, followed by a drop in the following months. The peak at parturition is significantly lower in the 3rd reproductive cycle compared to the 2nd. The drop in antibody production observed after parturition of the 3rd reproductive cycle is significantly higher than that observed after parturition of the 2nd reproductive cycle. Nevertheless, the infection can still be revealed at flock level after three years post infection.