Experimental infection of captive axis deer with Brucella abortus

Four captive-raised axis deer, Axis axis (Erxleben), which were negative serologically to Brucella were inoculated with 1 X 10(8) virulent Brucella abortus biotype 1 organisms (Texas #221 isolate) administered bilaterally into the conjunctival sac. Sera collected from each deer prior to inoculation and 30 days post-inoculation (PI) were examined for Brucella antibodies by the buffered Brucella antigen (card), the rivanol precipitation, the standard tube agglutination, and the cold complement fixation tube serologic tests. All four axis deer converted serologically as determined by all tests at 30 days PI. Brucella abortus biotype 1 was isolated from 26 of 32 tissue samples collected at necropsy and also from milk from the lactating female.