Frequency of Brucellosis in High Risk Human Groups in Pakistan Detected through Polymerase Chain Reaction and its Comparison with Conventional Slide Agglutination Test

The risk of brucellosis in the individuals occupationally exposed to animals was determined in present study by slide agglutination test (SAT) and PCR to find best possible option for diagnosis. Peripheral blood samples (n=95) were collected from the humans in and around Faisalabad district Punjab Pakistan showing clinical signs related to brucellosis of occupationally exposed groups including veterinary professionals (n=33) livestock farmers (n=48) and butchers (n=14). Brucella genus specific primers were designed (targeting BCSP 31 gene) and used in PCR assay. This could amplify 224-bp region. Out of these 95 peripheral blood samples 37(38.94%) and 14(14.7%) were positive by SAT and PCR respectively. PCR is more specific test for detection of Brucella spp. The higher number of positives by SAT as compared to PCR may be due to lack of specificity of SAT. Brucellosis is an occupational hazard in animal handlers and medical practitioners may also focus on this problem while tackling recurrent fever in such population. There is a dire need of more reliable and specific diagnostic facilities like PCR to combat this potentially occupational zoonosis in Pakistan especially where brucellosis is prevalent in animals. Copyright 2014 Friends Science Publishers