Brucellosis in feral swine in Florida

Serums from 95 feral swine trapped in Glades County, Florida, were tested for brucella antibodies, using the standard tube, card, rivanol, and complement-fixation tests. Fifty (53%) of the animals were seropositive to at least 1 test. The standard tube test detected 98% of the serums positive to any of the 4 procedures. The prevalence of brucella antibodies was significantly lower (P less than 0.0005) in feral swine less than 6 months old than in those greater than or equal to 6 months old. The prevalences by sex were similar. Necropsies were performed on 9 of the feral swine. Brucella suis, biotype 1, was recovered from all 9, with lymph nodes being the tissues most commonly infected. Only the standard tube test detected brucella antibodies in all 9 culture-positive animals.