Serological diagnosis of human brucellosis in Morocco and prospects for advanced diagnostic techniques

Aicha  Qasmaoui; Samira  Natoubi; Mehdi  Bougharouine; Farida  Ohmani; Karima  Halout; Jamila  Hamamouchi; Bouchra  Belkadi; Reda  Charof

doi:10.18502/ijm.v17i5.19877

Aicha Qasmaoui Department of Medical Bacteriology, Laboratory of Epidemic Diseases, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco
Samira Natoubi Department of Nursing, Higher Institute of the Nursing Professions and Technical Health of Casablanca, Laboratory of Health, Care and Sustainable Development, Casablanca, Morocco
Mehdi Bougharouine Department of Epidemiological Surveillance, Provincial Health Safety and Monitoring Unit, Provincial Delegation of the Ministry of Health, Laayoune, Morocco
Farida Ohmani Department of Medical Bacteriology, Laboratory of Epidemic Diseases, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco
Karima Halout Department of Medical Bacteriology, Laboratory of Epidemic Diseases, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco
Jamila Hamamouchi Department of Medical Bacteriology, Laboratory of Epidemic Diseases, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco
Bouchra Belkadi Department of Biology, Team of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University, Rabat, Morocco
Reda Charof Department of Medical Bacteriology, Laboratory of Epidemic Diseases, National Institute of Hygiene, Rabat, Morocco

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v17i5.19877

Keywords: Diagnostic; Brucellosis; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Rose bengal; Sensitivity; Specificity

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Brucellosis, a contagious infection caused by Brucella spp, remains the most widely reported bacterial zoonosis globally. Since the clinical manifestations are often non-specific, reliable laboratory confirmation, in ac- cordance with World Health Organization recommendations, is essential. This study reports human brucellosis cases between

2017 and 2025 based on serological confirmation; it also discusses approaches to improve diagnostic accuracy for better surveillance, timely treatment, and support public health strategies.

Materials and Methods: A total of 95 serum samples were obtained from patients presenting with clinical manifestations suggestive of brucellosis. Initial screening was performed using the Rose Bengal test, and positive or equivocal samples were further analyzed by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to detect both IgG and IgM antibodies for serological confirmation.

Results: Among the 95 patients investigated, the Rose Bengal test yielded positive results in 69.5% of cases. Serological confirmation by ELISA demonstrated IgM seropositivity in 57.9% of patients and IgG seropositivity in 55.8%. The diagnos- tic performance of ELISA showed a sensitivity of 83.3% for IgM detection and 80.3% for IgG detection. Regarding patient demographics, the mean age was 37.9 ± 16.4 years, with a slight male predominance (54.7%).

Conclusion: The study reveals a considerable proportion of brucellosis-positive cases, confirming the value of serological testing in endemic regions such as Morocco. Nonetheless, serology should be complemented with advanced diagnostic methods, including PCR to improve both the accuracy and timeliness of diagnosis. These findings support the adoption of integrated diagnostic approaches and the reinforcement of laboratory capacity in high-risk areas.