The authors tested the use of the immunofluorescence technique for the routine examination of milk samples for the contamination with group B streptococci (Str. agalactiae). The conjugates were ...prepared from rabbit sera; the rabbits were immunized by a polyvalent vaccine containing the antigens of all six types of Str. agalactiae. The non-specific reactions of conjugates with some streptococcus strains of group C were reduced by a single-stage inhibition with a titrated solution of the serum of non-immunized healthy rabbits, used as a diluent of lyophilized conjugates. If the producer enterprise maintains the quality of conjugates, the results of the immunofluorescence examination of milk samples for Str. agalactiae contamination are comparable with the results of the cultivation procedure. The method can be recommended mainly for the final examinations of sanitated herds where it may reveal positive cows which were not detected by the cultivation method. Besides the described indications, immunofluorescence can be used as an equal-value method to replace the cultivation procedure in the cases of emergency situations.
The authors tested the use of the immunofluorescence technique for the routine examination of milk samples for the contamination with group B streptococci (Str. agalactiae). The conjugates were ...prepared from rabbit sera; the rabbits were immunized by a polyvalent vaccine containing the antigens of all six types of Str. agalactiae. The non-specific reactions of conjugates with some streptococcus strains of group C were reduced by a single-stage inhibition with a titrated solution of the serum of non-immunized healthy rabbits, used as a diluent of lyophilized conjugates. If the producer enterprise maintains the quality of conjugates, the results of the immunofluorescence examination of milk samples for Str. agalactiae contamination are comparable with the results of the cultivation procedure. The method can be recommended mainly for the final examinations of sanitated herds where it may reveal positive cows which were not detected by the cultivation method. Besides the described indications, immunofluorescence can be used as an equal-value method to replace the cultivation procedure in the cases of emergency situations.
