[Considerations concerning diagnostic certainties and cut-off values for a bulk milk ELISA for Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis]. / Uberlegungen zu diagnostischen Sicherheiten und Cut-Off-Werten für einen Sammelmilch-ELISA auf Paratuberkulose.

Serological tests for the examination of individual samples from single animals are evaluated based on their ability to detect true positives above a defined threshold value. If results are obtained not from an individual but from a bulk sample this concept usually is adopted such that the threshold is set to allow the detection of a single positive sample within the pool. In conjunction with the development of a diagnostic paratuberculosis ELISA for the examination of bulk milk samples it is discussed which interpolations of this concept are justified when defining the true status of a herd based on the test parameters and the seroprevalence within the herd. Here, bulk milk from up to 50 animals each and the corresponding individual samples of 4241 dairy cows from 28 herds in the state of Brandenburg are investigated, and results are subjected to different evaluation approaches. Based on epidemiological considerations and test parameters a "critical prevalence" is defined which then serves as basis for the deduction of a cut-off value to be used for bulk milk samples. Finally, the practical relevance of this approach is demonstrated by suggesting an initial scheme for paratuberculosis classification of dairy herds with respect to possible control measures.

[Experience with simple ELISA test systems for Brucella serology in cattle, sheep and goats]. / Erfahrungen mit einfachen ELISA-Testsystemen für die Brucellose-Serologie bei Rind, Schaf und Ziege.

The objective of this work was to use the ELISA technique for the serological surveillance for freedom of brucellosis of cattle, sheep and goats. By comparing 28 cattle sera taken after a brucellosis outbreak, 15 bovine sera supplied by the Federal Institute for Health Protection of Consumers and Veterinary Medicine (BgVV) and 497 serum slow agglutination test (SSAT) and complement fixation test (CFT) negative bovine sera from herds officially declared free of brucellosis, the ELISA technique not only shows higher sensitivity as compared to SSAT and CFT but also distinguishes clearly between positive and negative reactions. The serological comparison by SSAT, CFT and ELISA of 615 cattle, 624 sheep and 630 goat sera from herds acknowledged as brucellosis free showed equivalent specificities for both CFT and ELISA. The specificity of the SSAT was much lower, 81.1% in cattle and 96.2% in goat sera. The examination of 5796 cattle, 1337 calf, 5031 sheep and 1796 goat sera demonstrates the advantage of the ELISA technique as routine method. The possible application of the ELISA technique as a screening method for serological brucellosis tests in sheep, goats and possibly also in pigs is discussed.

[Comparison of the results from commercially available Brucella ELISA test kits for the investigation of bovine sera]. / Vergleich der Ergebnisse von kommerziellen Brucellose-ELISA Testkits zur Untersuchung von Rinderserum.

Bovine sera from a farm with bacteriologically confirmed brucellosis were taken for comparative serological studies using conventional methods (slow agglutination test--SAT, complement fixation test--CFT, Rose-Bengal-plate-agglutination-test--RBPT) and 5 different commercially available brucellosis ELISA testkits. These serum samples together with other infectious sera producing low level positive antibody titers in conventional tests did not react uniformly when tested by five different commercial ELISA testkits. The introduction of a standard control serum with a general cut-off resulted in a greater uniformity of ELISA results from 4 of 5 ELISA testkits and a closer approach to results of the CFT which is regarded as the confirmatory test for brucellosis. This control serum, on the other hand, was not suitable for the identification of the sensitivity of the various ELISA test kits. For this purpose, in SAT and CFT weakly positive reacting brucella sera from infected farms is needed.

[The importance of sonography for the acute diagnosis of multiple trauma]. / Die Bedeutung der Sonographie bei der Akutdiagnostik Polytraumatisierter.

Sixty polytraumatised patients with blunt abdominal injuries were sonographically examined immediately after hospitalisation, between January 1985 and October 1988. Accumulation of free fluid in the abdominal cavity or organ injuries were directly recorded from 17 patients. Results obtained from examinations were falsely negative in three cases. The method, consequently, exhibited 0.85 in sensitivity, 1.0 in specificity, and 0.33 in prevalence. Ultrasonography is recommended as the first step to be taken for diagnosis, preceded only by clinical check-up and parallel shock therapy. It may be followed by peritoneal lavage, yet only in the event of dubious findings.

[Ultrasonic echography as a diagnostic measure before supra-pubic bladder puncture]. / Die Ultraschallechographie als diagnostische Massnahme vor der supra-publischen Blasenpunktion.

It is reported on 40 punctures of the bladder after previous ultrasound diagnostics. In all cases the puncture could be performed successfully without failure at a filling stage of the bladder of 250 to 300 ml. By this possibility to puncture the bladder at a physiological filling stage changes of the urine tests were avoided which appear by the often recommended methods for the increase of diuresis.