The live B. melitensis Rev.1 strain is considered the best vaccine available for the prophylaxis of brucellosis in small ruminants, especially when used at the standard dose by the conjunctival route. In the present study a 1<FONT FACE=Symbol>´</FONT> 10(9) CFU dose for both sheep and goats conjunctivally vaccinated was tested to evaluate the duration of serological responses. Conjunctival vaccination with Rev. 1 performed in adult animals induced a rapid rise in serological titres as measured by Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT), Complement Fixation Test (CF) and Modified Rose Bengal Plate Test (MRBPT). Titres then decreased and became negative in most animals by four months after vaccination (except MRBPT). The goats responded better to the vaccination than the sheep as one month after vaccination 100% of the goats revealed positive results to RB and RBM and 93.4% to FC test. The RBM was the one that detected more positive animals along the study.
goat; sheep; Brucella melitensis; Rev.1 vaccine; conjunctival route
