Studying the diagnostic value of serological and molecular methods for laboratory diagnosis of human brucellosis

Abstract

Brucellosis remains an actual issue in Azerbaijan, where an average of 550 new cases are registered each year. So, timely and accurate laboratory diagnosis is very important. The aim: comparatively evaluation of the diagnostic value of serological and molecular methods for the early detection and identification of latent forms of infection. During 2019-2021, a total of 3,208 blood samples were analyzed using the Heddelson, Wright (WR), Rose-Bengal tests, ELISA (IgG, IgM), and PCR (n=89, samples with negative WR). Statistical significance was calculated using the χ² test; differences were considered statistically significant at p<0.05. Classical serological methods demonstrated high diagnostic value in newly diagnosed cases. Only in 17.3% of them detected by ELISA. PCR enabled the additional identification of Brucella spp. DNA in 14.6% of seronegative samples. The necessity of combined use of serological and molecular methods in brucellosis diagnostics has been substantiated.