The Killing Capacity and the Oxidative Burst of Macrophages Express the Phenotypic Character of Natural Resistance to Brucella abortus.

¹El-Enbaawy MI, ¹El-Metwally M and ²Selim SA.

¹Deptartment of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University and ²Center of Biotechnology Services and Researches.

To set up genetic basis for selecting brucellosis-naturally resistant animals, an in vitro study was carried out. Depending on the macrophage killing assay and the macrophage oxidative killing capacity assay, animals were phenotypically classified into resistant and susceptible ones. Resistance rates of cattle, buffaloes and camels under test were 16.6, 33.3, and 80 respectively. Macrophages derived from the resistant animals expressed high killing capacity against Brucella abortus and increased oxidative burst. Since both assays were relatively parallel, so either of them is recommended.