Testing the Sensitivity of RID with OPS antigen in reindeer herding farms affected with brucellosis

Brucellosis among farm animals is a serious problem for veterinary science and practice. This disease is a danger to human health and is widespread in disadvantaged regions of Russia. Many years of experience in combating brucellosis in reindeer, including organizational, economic, veterinary and sanitary measures, have shown their insufficient effectiveness. The problem is compounded by the presence of natural foci of infection in wild reindeer. In recent years, considerable attention has been paid to the development of new diagnostic methods that distinguish post-vaccination brucellosis antibodies from antibodies caused by spontaneous infection. The immunodiffusion reaction with polysaccharide antigen in other types of farm animals is successfully used as a differential test. Production experiments have shown that this reaction is highly specific and identifies animals with high rates of the agglutination reaction and complement binding reaction. The immunodiffusion reaction becomes positive 1-3 weeks after infection and remains positive until the end of the follow-up period in all infected reindeer. Studies in farms with vaccinated reindeer affected by brucellosis have shown that the immunodiffusion reaction is a specific reaction, but its sensitivity is inferior to the agglutination reaction+complement binding reaction complex. The use of the immunodiffusion reaction in combination with the agglutination reaction and complement binding reaction, as well as specific prophylaxis using vaccines from B. abortus strains 19 and 82, makes it possible to reduce the intensity of the epizootic process and create prerequisites for the improvement of herds within 20-24 months.