Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and animal husbandry, Anand Agricultural University, Anand-388 001, India.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was employed for detection of Brucella DNA in semen of cattle and buffalo breeding bulls. A genus specific primer pair which amplified a 223 bp fragment of gene encoding a 31-kDa Brucella abortus antigen was used in assay. Serological test for the diagnosis of Brucella infection was also performed in breeding bulls. The PCR was resulted in more numbers of positive samples as compared to serological test since it detected Brucella DNA in 19 out of 101 semen samples while Brucella antibodies was detected in 10 sera samples of same bulls using ELISA. The PCR may be used as supplementary test for detection of Brucella infection in bulls.
