Brucellosis (cattle)

Description

Bovine brucellosis is a highly contagious disease caused by Brucella abortus. Australia has been free of the disease since 1989 and now bovine brucellosis is considered to be exotic to Australia. The major clinical feature of infection is multiple late term abortions and infertility in cattle.

Diagnosis and tests available

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is strongly supported by history, clinical signs, and confirmed by positive culture and serology for Brucella spp.

Tests available

Click on + in the tables below for sampling requirements and additional test information

Note: Specimens as required for the diagnosis of abortion in cattle (see Abortion Investigation)

Code	Name	Samples required	Species	Turnaround time	Price (excl. GST)	Notes	Test days
BR_ABO_CF	Brucella abortus CFT	Clotted blood/Serum (Red top) LARGE ANIMALS: 10ml of blood (incl ≥2ml of serum) collected into a 10ml plain red top tube SMALL ANIMALS: 5ml of blood (incl ≥1ml of serum) collected in a 5ml plain red top tube. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Equine, Porcine, Companion Animals (Canine), other species	Up to 5D	$16.45	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Monday to Friday
B_AB_CF_IU	Brucella abortus CFT (in International Units)	Clotted blood/Serum (Red top) LARGE ANIMALS: 10ml of blood (incl ≥2ml of serum) collected into a 10ml plain red top tube SMALL ANIMALS: 5ml of blood (incl ≥1ml of serum) collected in a 5ml plain red top tube. Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Equine, Porcine, Companion Animals (Canine), other species	Up to 5D	$16.45	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Monday to Friday
BR_ABO_ABE	Brucella abortus ELISA	Clotted blood (Red top)/Serum (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled	Bovine	Up to 7D	$21.55	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Thursday and Friday
BR_ABO_RBP	Brucella abortus RBT (Rose Bengal)	Clotted blood/Serum (Red top) LARGE ANIMALS: 10ml of blood (incl at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a 10ml plain red top tube SMALL ANIMALS: 5ml of blood (incl at least 1 ml of serum) collected in a 5ml plain red top tube. Submit chilled	Bovine, Porcine, Canine, other species	Up to 5D	$9.35	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Monday to Friday
BR_ABO_SA	Brucella abortus SAT	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Equine, Porcine	Up to 5D	$21.85	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Wednesday and Thursday
BR_AB_SA_15	Brucella abortus SAT (<15 International Units)	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Equine, Porcine	Up to 5D	$21.85	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Wednesday and Thursday
B_AB_SA_EX	Brucella abortus SAT (Export)	Clotted blood (Red top) 10ml of blood (including at least 2 ml of serum) collected into a plain red top tube Submit chilled	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Equine, Porcine	Up to 5D	$21.85	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Wednesday and Thursday
BR_SUI_ABE	Brucella ELISA- SVANOVIR® -Brucella antibody C-ELISA Kit* (B.abortus, B melitensis & B.suis antibody detection)	Clotted blood/Serum (Red top) or Lith Hep blood/plasma (Green top) LARGE ANIMALS: 10ml of blood (incl ≥ 2 ml of serum) collected into a 10ml tube SMALL ANIMALS: 5ml of blood (incl ≥1 ml of serum) collected in a 5ml plain red top tube Submit chilled	Bovine, Caprine, Porcine, Canine	Up to 7D	$23.85	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Dogs)
BRUCE_CLT	Brucella spp – Selective culture	Fresh tissue Body fluids (e.g. joint fluid, semen, abscess material)	Bovine, Ovine	7D	$82.10	D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays. Related Disease Pages: Brucellosis (In Cattle) Brucellosis (In Sheep) Brucellosis (In Dogs)	Monday to Saturday² ²Note: Prior approval of delivery and testing on Saturday is required. Please contact Customer Service on 1800 675 623 to seek approval.
BRUGEN_PCR	Brucella genus qPCR*	Fresh tissues Swabs PCR from culture	Bovine, Ovine, Caprine, Porcine, Canine and Aquatic (Marine Mammals)	5D	$101.25	* Denotes analyses not covered by the NATA scope of accreditation. D (number of working days) and W (number of weeks). Test TAT does not include weekends and public holidays.	Monday-Friday

Note
Provide clear documentation on the Veterinary specimen advice form of each animal including the animal that aborted.
Blood samples collected in vacutainer containing separation gel are not suitable for Complement Fixation Test (CFT) or Rose Bengal Test (RBT). Plain tubes (red top) are recommended for blood collection.
Fees for tests undertaken to confirm or exclude a diagnosis of bovine brucellosis are paid by NSW Department of Primary Industries Regional Development (DPIRD).

Additional Information

Customer Service

Contact Customer Service for enquiries relating to testing and results, quotations and pricing, couriers, sample submission and invoicing.

NSW DPIRD's laboratories are committed to continual improvement of services. If you would like to provide feedback, please fill in and submit the online feedback form.

CONTACT DETAILS
Phone	1800 675 623
Email	laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au
Operating Hours	8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday (excluding public holidays) 8:30am-12:00pm Saturday (for deliveries only)
Postal Address	Private Bag 4008, Narellan NSW 2567

Quotations

For Animal export, Plant health or Veterinary quotations, please complete the online quotation request

Submission Forms

Veterinary Specimen Advice Form

Please Note: These documents are not fully web accessible, please contact Customer Service (laboratory.services@dpird.nsw.gov.au) for more information.

Courier services and specimen delivery

For NSW submissions, please contact the relevant Customer Service team for courier account details and to order consignment notes.

For submitters outside of NSW, Couriers can be contacted directly to make bookings and arrange collection of packages at the submitters own cost.

Commercial couriers may use either road or air transport and specimens should therefore be packed in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) requirements. Most submission sent by veterinarians to the APHL for testing are defined as “Biological Substance Category B” and must be packed according to the IATA packing instructions 650 (Biological Substance Category B). As requirements for transport can change, customers should consult with their transport agent to obtain current requirements.

Samples may also be hand delivered to the site during normal business hours (8.30am - 4.30pm).

Sample Type	Laboratory	Street Address
Animal (including aquatic animals)	NSW Animal and Plant Health Laboratories (APHL)	EMAI, Woodbridge Road, Menangle NSW 2568