Comparative Study of Agglutinins and Complement-Fixing Antibodies for Brucella in Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid

Abstract

Simultaneous tests for agglutinins and complement-fixing antibodies for Brucella were carried out on the serum and cerebrospinal fluid of 13 patients having brucellosis. Complement-fixing antibodies and agglutinins were demonstrated in the cerebrospinal fluid of one patient with chronic encephalomeningitis and in another patient with a paravertebral abscess associated with Brucella spondylitis. A 3d patient having chronic Brucella encephalomeningitis had agglutinins in the cerebrospinal fluid. In 13 cases these 2 sero-logic tests when performed with cerebrospinal fluid have not aided in resolving the problem of the incidence of organic brain damage in patients with brucellosis.