OIE Reference Laboratory Reports
Activities in 2011
Name of disease (or topic) for
which you are a designated OIE
Reference Laboratory:
Address of laboratory:
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut
Naumburger Str. 96a
07743 Jena
GERMANY
Tel.:
0049 (0)3641 8042200
Fax:
0049 (0)3641 804228
e-mail address:
website:
Name (including Title and
Position) of Head of Laboratory
(Responsible Official):
Name(including Title and
Position) of OIE Reference
Expert:
Name (including Title and
Position) of writer of this report
(if different from above):
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Brucellosis
Heinrich.Neubauer@fli.bund.de
http://www.fli.bund.de/
Prof. Dr Heinrich Neubauer, Head of the
Institute of Bacterial Infections and
Zoonoses
Prof. Dr Heinrich Neubauer
Prof. Dr Heinrich Neubauer / Dr Falk
Melzer, Head of the NRL Brucellosis
Germany
1
Brucellosis
Part I: Summary of general activities related to the disease
Brucellosis research and routine diagnostic work is embedded in a special working group dealing with biosafety level 3
bacteria. Scientific field of interest concerns development of new and improvement of existing diagnostic methods and
the reagent itself. The Research work is done in the frame of several national and international projects. Diagnostic
capabilities are used to examine samples of national and international origin. Another task is performing training
courses for scientists and technicians from Germany and abroad. The laboratory is involved in “Twinning Projects” of
EU and other bilateral co-operations to support directly regions were brucellosis is endemic.
1.
Test(s) in use/or available for the specified disease/topic at your laboratory
In our laboratory, the following tests are used on a routine basis: ELISA, CFT, SAT, RBT, PCR, real-time PCR,
and “classical” bacteriological identification and typing.
For research, additional methods have been established: FPA, MLVA, DNA sequencing
Test
For
Specificity
Total
CFT
Antibody
Brucella
330
SAT
Antibody
Brucella
370
RBT
Antibody
Brucella
1200
iELISA
Antibody
Brucella
190
PCR/ Real-time PCR
DNA
Brucella spp.
240
“Classical” bacteriological
identification and typing
Species, biotype
Brucella spp., biovar
50
Bacteria
Brucella
100
Bacteriological isolation
2.
Production and distribution of diagnostic reagents
The OIE-NRL produces B. ovis, B. canis and Yersinia enterocolitica O9 antigens. In addition, we distributed and
consumed national reference sera for brucellosis and B.ovis. Comparative Antigen preparations of B. abortus for
brucellosis monitoring are commercially available. However, batch releases of this product for Germany are
processed by the NRL. We have provided DNA positive control material for PCR in a certain extent to national
and international laboratories.
Generally, we have encouraged diagnostic companies to produce and supply Brucella antigens for diagnosis. Our
laboratory prepares only those antigens that are not commercially available.
2
Type of reagent
Amount supplied nationally
(including for own use)
Amount supplied to other
countries
Control positive serum brucellosis
30 ml
10 ml
Control negative serum brucellosis
20 ml
5 ml
Control positive serum B.ovis
20 ml
–
B.ovis antigen
20 ampoules of 1 ml
–
Y. enterocolitica O9 antigen
20 ampoules of 1 ml
–
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Brucellosis
Part II: Activities specifically related to the mandate
of OIE Reference Laboratories
3.
International harmonisation and standardisation of methods for diagnostic testing or the
production and testing of vaccines
a)
Establishment and maintenance of a network with other OIE Reference Laboratories
designated for the same pathogen or disease and organisation of regular inter-laboratory
proficiency testing to ensure comparability of results
The laboratory participated in the following trials:
b)

EU Brucellosis Bovine Milk iELISA Proficiency Ring-trial

Standardisation of Fluorescence Polarisation Assay (FPA) organized by the OIE Reference Laboratory
Argentina

CFT harmonisation in EU, organized by EU Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Europe
Organisation of inter-laboratory proficiency testing with laboratories other than OIE
Reference Laboratories for the same pathogens and diseases to ensure equivalence of
results
The laboratory participated in the following trials:
4.

EU Brucellosis Bovine Milk iELISA Proficiency Ring-trial

CFT harmonisation in EU, organized by EU Reference Laboratory for Brucellosis, Europe
Preparation and supply of international reference standards for diagnostic tests or vaccines
The Laboratory prepares the German National Positive Reference serum for Brucellosis which is standardized
against the OIEISS.
Reference DNA prepared from the reference strains of Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis as positive control
for PCR is used for standardization of PCR.
5.
Research and development of new procedures for diagnosis and control
Development of a diagnostic multiplex PCR microarray assay to detect and differentiate Brucella spp. (see:
Schmoock et al., 2011)
A project is running to evaluate the use of Raman spectroscopy for direct diagnosis of Brucella ssp. in samples.
6.
Collection, analysis and dissemination of epizootiological data relevant to international disease
control
None.
7.
Maintenance of a system of quality assurance, biosafety and biosecurity relevant to the
pathogen and the disease concerned
The whole institute (FLI) is accredited according to ISO 17025-2005 and fulfils the biosecurity and biosafety
regulations.
Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
3
Brucellosis
8.
Provision of consultant expertise to OIE or to OIE Member Countries
Prof. Neubauer was involved in writing and reviewing brucellosis chapters of the Terrestrial Manual.
Within the framework of a planned laboratory twinning project with the United Arab Emirates Prof. Neubauer and
Dr. Melzer were on a short term visit in UAE to support the colleagues in building up two specialized brucellosis
laboratories and to organize the laboratory twinning between the OIE laboratory and two laboratories of UAE.
The Twinning project in strengthening of control on bacterial zoonoses with Kosovo in which Dr. Melzer was
involved was successfully finished. Dr. Melzer was on a short term mission to support the Kosovan colleagues in
improving the laboratory facilities and skills of the technicians (brucellosis serology and PCR).
9.
Provision of scientific and technical training to personnel from other OIE Member Countries
A two weeks training course in serological methods for brucellosis diagnosis was performed at the OIE reference
lab and visited by 4 colleagues from two different laboratories of UAE.
Another two weeks’ training course in diagnostic techniques regarding brucellosis was performed at the OIE
reference. This included serological methods and PCR identification of Brucella spp. It was visited by one
colleague from Oman.
10. Provision of diagnostic testing facilities to other OIE Member Countries
We received sample material (sera, tissue, isolates and DNA) from Oman, Israel, Bangladesh, Kenya and Dubai
for confirmatory testing, isolation, identification and typing. Results were submitted.
11. Organisation of international scientific meetings on behalf of OIE or other international bodies
We were involved in a study for standardisation of Fluorescence Polarisation Assay (FPA) organized by the OIE
Reference Laboratories.
12. Participation in international scientific collaborative studies
We were involved in a study for standardisation of Fluorescence Polarisation Assay (FPA) organized by the OIE
Reference Laboratories.
13. Publication and dissemination of information relevant to the work of OIE (including list of
scientific publications, internet publishing activities, presentations at international conferences)

Presentations at international conferences and meetings
Melzer F, Schmoock G, Ehricht R, Elschner M (2011) The use of new typing methods to investigate brucellosis
outbreaks in outdoor pig farms in Germany. Brucellosis 2011 International Research Conference

Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals
Gwida MM, El-Gohary AH, Melzer F, Tomaso H, Rosler U, Wernery U, Wernery R, Elschner MC, Khan I,
Eickhoff M, Schoner D, Neubauer H. (2011) Comparison of diagnostic tests for the detection of Brucella spp. in
camel sera. BMC Res Notes. 6;4(1):525. [Epub ahead of print]
Schmoock G, Ehricht R, Melzer F, Elschner M, Tomaso H, Neubauer H, Al Dahouk S. (2011) Development of a
diagnostic multiplex polymerase chain reaction microarray assay to detect and differentiate Brucella spp. Diagn
Microbiol Infect Dis.;71(4):341-53. Epub 2011 Oct 5.
Gwida M, El-Gohary A, Melzer F, Khan I, Rösler U, Neubauer H. (2011) Brucellosis in camels. Res Vet Sci..
[Epub ahead of print]
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
Brucellosis
Kämpfer P, Huber B, Busse HJ, Scholz HC, Tomaso H, Hotzel H, Melzer F. (2011) Ochrobactrum pecoris sp.
nov., isolated from farm animals. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 61(Pt 9):2278-83. Epub 2010 Oct 15.
Godfroid J, Scholz HC, Barbier T, Nicolas C, Wattiau P, Fretin D, Whatmore AM, Cloeckaert A, Blasco JM,
Moriyon I, Saegerman C, Muma JB, Al Dahouk S, Neubauer H, Letesson JJ. (2011) Brucellosis at the
animal/ecosystem/human interface at the beginning of the 21st century. Prev Vet Med.102(2):118-31. Epub 2011
May 14.
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Annual reports of OIE Reference Centres, 2011
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