Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263 145 (Uttaranchal).
The B. melitensis B 115, a rough strain, was used for the extraction of soluble antigen. Brucella cells were treated with the antibiotic cefotaxime, which exerted bactericidal action on the cell wall. The antigen preparation cefotaxime filtrate antigen melitensis (CFAM) was found to be specific in detecting Brucella negative [standard tube agglutination test (STAT) titre 1:10 and 1:20] animals. The soluble antigen prepared possessed the diagnostic value as demonstrated by precipitation reaction. The antigenic preparation offers potential for use in identifying field cases of brucellosis. The presence of M epitope in field infection was reflected.
