Sandwich ELISA system for cartilage oligomeric matrix protein in equine synovial fluid and serum

Reasons for performing study: Measurement of cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) in serum has potential for diagnosis of equine osteoarthritis (OA), but clinical use is currently limited by the lack of specificity of an inhibition ELISA as well as by baseline increases due to exercise. Improved methods for ELISA with increased antigen specificity and sensitivity are therefore required for reliable measurement. Hypothesis: Measurement of the serum level of COMP by sandwich ELISA allows identification of horses with OA. Methods: New monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were elicited against equine cartilage COMP, their epitopes were determined and a sandwich ELISA was developed. The concentrations of COMP in synovial fluid (SF; n = 100) and sera (n = 100) from OA cases were measured by sandwich ELISA as well as by inhibition ELISA and compared with concentrations in normal joints (n = 95) and horses (n = 50). Results: Immunoblots of enzymatically cleaved COMP showed that the new mAbs recognised different epitopes located on a 20 kDa fragment between K⁶³ and K²³⁸ of the EGF‐like repeats. Inhibition ELISA with any mAb detected significantly increased levels of COMP in OA SF compared with normal SF, whereas no significant difference was detected between serum levels of COMP in OA and normal horses. Conversely, sandwich ELISA with the combination of unlabelled 2A11 × biotinylated 11F10 mAbs detected a significant increase in COMP levels in both serum and SF from OA cases compared with levels in normal animals. Conclusions and potential relevance: Measurement of serum COMP with sandwich ELISA may be useful in identifying horses with OA.     

Detection of antibodies in Trypanosome-infected cattle by means of a microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Summary A micromodification of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated for its potential application in the immunodiagnosis of bovine trypanosomiasis. Serum samples from infected and non-infected Zebu cattle and samples from Friesian cattle with experimental infections were examined for the presence of trypanosomal antibodies. There were significant differences between the microELISA values obtained with samples from infected and non-infected cattle. During the course of infection microELISA values were found to fluctuate and the antibody response varied in individual animals. The test did not distinguish between infections withTrypanosoma brucei, T. vivax andT. congolense. There were no cross-reactions between trypanosome antigens and serum samples from cattle infected withT. theileri, Theileria parva, Th. mutans, Th. annulata, Babesia divergens andAnaplasma marginale.     

Determining the Prevalence and Seasonality of Fasciola hepatica in Pasture-based Dairy herds in Ireland using a Bulk Tank Milk ELISA

Background

Fasciola hepatica is a helminth parasite of global importance in livestock, with major economic impact. However information on F. hepatica infections in Irish pasture-based dairy herds is limited. Therefore this study was conducted in order to determine the prevalence, seasonality and management factors associated with F. hepatica. A total of 319 Irish dairy herds were selected for this study. Bulk tank milk (BTM) samples were collected from 290 dairy farms on a quarter year basis, while from a further 29 dairy farms BTM samples were collected on a monthly basis to provide a more detailed pattern of F. hepatica exposure in Irish herds. BTM samples were analysed using a commercially available F. hepatica antibody detection ELISA. Furthermore, within-herd prevalence of F. hepatica was assessed in a subset of these 29 herds (n = 17); both individual serum samples and bulk tank milk samples were collected.

Results

A within-herd prevalence of ≤ 50 % was found for herds with negative bulk tank milk samples. The mean prevalence of the 290 study herds was 75.4 % (Range 52 %–75.1 %), with the highest prevalence being observed in November (75.1 %). The seasonal pattern of F. hepatica shows elevated antibodies as the grazing season progressed, reaching a peak in January. A significant association was found between F. hepatica and age at first calving.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that F. hepatica is present in a large proportion of Irish dairy herds and provides a basis on which control practices, particularly in adult dairy cows, can be reviewed.     

Cow–Calf Herds in Eastern Germany: Status Quo of Some Parasite Species and a Comparison of Chemoprophylaxis and Pasture Management in the Control of Gastrointestinal Nematodes

Infections with gastrointestinal parasites (Eimeria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Buxtonella sulcata, Fasciola hepatica, Moniezia spp. and trichostrongyles) and lungworms were monitored in five cow–calf herds in the north German lowlands. Estimated prevalences of infections with Eimeria spp. (predominantly Eimeria bovis) ranged between approximately 2 and 48 %. The highest prevalences were found during late summer and autumn. On one farm Cryptosporidium spp. were detected in July and August (prevalence: 8.5 ± 2.7 % and 6.7 < 2.0 %). The latter finding coincided with diarrhoea in many calves. Buxtonella sulcata was found during the entire study period in highly variable estimated prevalences ranging between zero and 73 %, but without any obvious association with clinical disease. Fasciola hepatica was detected on four out of five farms at estimated prevalences of approximately 1–20 %. Lungworm infections played a minor role in at least three of five study herds. The estimated prevalence of trichostrongyle infections rose from August until November whereas the intensity of infection did not change significantly. No difference in the intensity of infection could be detected between one farm on which infections with gastrointestinal nematodes were controlled only by moving the animals to an uninfected pasture in July, and three other herds on which strategic anthelmintic control was in place.     

Plasma lipopolysaccharide elevations in cattle associated with early-stage infection by Fasciola hepatica

Fasciolosis is an endemic zoonotic parasitic disease with significant impacts on human health and both animal health and production. Early post-infection impacts on the host remain unclear. The objective of this study was to determine the changes, if any, to levels of endotoxin in cattle plasma in response to early-stage infection with Fasciola hepatica. Thirty-six (36) commercial bred cattle were experimentally infected with approximately 400 viable metacercariae. Plasma lipopolysaccharide (endotoxin) levels were examined on 24 occasions from 0 h before infection to 336 h after infection using the Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate chromogenic end point assay and compared with that of six (6) uninfected control animals. Peak lipopolysaccharide levels in infected animals were reached at 52 h after infection and returned to pre-infection levels at time 144 h after infection. Infected animals had significantly elevated lipopolysaccharide levels between 24 and 120 h after infection when compared to uninfected animals. The mean change in endotoxin units (EU)/mL over time after infection was statistically significant in infected animals. Elevations of lipopolysaccharide occurred in all infected animals suggesting a possible repeatable and titratable endotoxemia conducive to therapeutic agent model development.     

1种检测弓形虫急性感染的夹心ELISA方法

弓形虫（Toxoplasma gondii）是一种人畜共患机会性致病原虫，其急性感染可导致宿主产生明显的临床症状和严重的病理损伤。弓形虫致密颗粒蛋白1（dense granuleprotein 1，GRA1）是一种良好的诊断抗原，也是弓形虫急性感染的标志物循环抗原（circulating antigen，CAg）的重要组分。本研究利用TgGRA1单克隆抗体建立双抗体夹心ELISA方法，为急性弓形虫感染的检测提供依据。将免疫GRA1-His的小鼠脾细胞与SP2/0进行融合，筛选出能稳定分泌抗体的杂交瘤细胞。选择其中一种单抗与HRP标记后的鼠源GRA1多抗配对，建立1种双抗体夹心ELISA方法，检测人工感染弓形虫的猪和小鼠血清样品，并将检测效果与巢式PCR（nest PCR，nPCR）和商品化试剂盒进行比较。结果筛选到4株杂交瘤细胞，腹水效价为10⁶~10⁷，亚型均为IgG1；IFA和Western blot结果显示，4株单抗均具有良好的反应性和特异性。选择1G2单抗和HRP标记多抗配对，建立了循环抗原双抗体夹心ELISA方法，最低能够检测到血清中1.563 ng·mL^-1 GRA1抗原，或者100 ng·mL^-1 ESA。该方法与nPCR相比具有较高的一致性，较市售商品化试剂盒更为准确可靠。本研究第1次将GRA1抗原作为急性弓形虫感染的诊断指标，建立相应的检测方法，成功地在人工感染样品中检测到弓形虫急性感染，可为弓形虫急性感染的诊断提供参考，对临床上急性弓形虫病的治疗有指导意义。     

Establishment of Double-antibody Sandwich ELISA to Diagnose Acute Toxoplasmosis

The zoonotic protozoa Toxoplasma gondii is an opportunistic pathogen and distributes worldwide. Acute Toxoplasma infection causes serious pathological damages. Dense granule protein 1(GRA1) secreted by dense granule is an important component of Circulating antigen, which is an indication of acute toxoplasmosis. We aimed to use a monoclonal antibody against TgGRA1 to establish an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that targets antigen GRA1 in serum for acute toxoplasmosis diagnosis. First, the spleens of TgGRA1-His immunized mice were fused with SP2/0 cells,then we screened hybridomas that can constantly secret monoclonal antibody to the supernatant and injected them into mice to produce a large amount of mAbs. After the identification and purification of ascites, we choose one mAb as a capture antibody, HRP conjugated mouse anti-TgGRA1 polyclonal antibody as a detection antibody to develop sandwich ELISA. This method was used to detect samples from swine and mice artificially infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Besides, the results were compared with that of nPCR and two commercial kits to evaluate the efficiency of sandwich ELISA. We successfully got 4 mAbs with ascitic titers of 10⁶-10⁷, their subtypes are IgG1. Indirect fluorescent assay and Western blot showed that all of them can react specifically with TgGRA1.1G2 mAb and HRP conjugated mouse anti-TgGRA1 polyclonal antibody were used subsequently to establish sandwich ELISA for diagnosing acute infection. After optimization, sandwich ELISA can specifically detect 1.563 ng·mL^-1 GRA1 or 100 ng·mL^-1 ESA in serum. When detecting experimental animal samples, the sandwich ELISA exhibited the high consistency with the results of nPCR and showed higher efficiency than the commercial kits. In summary, we established a sandwich ELISA for acute toxoplasmosis diagnosis that captures one certain toxoplasma antigen GRA1, samples of artificially infected animals can be detected by this method, which makes acute toxoplasmosis diagnosis more reliable. It has guiding significance for clinical treatment of acute toxoplasmosis.     

Validation of an ELISA method for the serological diagnosis of canine brucellosis due to Brucella canis

In the present study, the validation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serodiagnosis of canine brucellosis is described. Two different antigenic extracts, obtained by heat or ultrasonic homogenization of microbial antigens from a wild isolate of Brucella canis bacteria, were compared by ELISA and Western blot (WB). A total of 145 canine sera were used to define sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the ELISA as follows: (1) sera from 34 animals with natural B. canis infection, confirmed by blood culture and PCR, as well as 51 sera samples from healthy dogs with negative results by the agar–gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test for canine brucellosis, were used as the control panel for B. canis infection; and (2) to scrutinize the possibility of cross reactions with other common dog infections in the same geographical area in Brazil, 60 sera samples from dogs harboring known infections by Leptospira sp., Ehrlichia canis, canine distemper virus (CDV), Neospora caninum, Babesia canis and Leishmania chagasi (10 in each group) were included in the study. The ELISA using heat soluble bacterial extract (HE-antigen) as antigen showed the best values of sensitivity (91.18%), specificity (100%) and accuracy (96.47%). In the WB analyses, the HE-antigen showed no cross-reactivity with sera from dogs with different infections, while the B. canis sonicate had various protein bands identified by those sera. The performance of the ELISA standardized with the heat soluble B. canis antigen indicates that this assay can be used as a reliable and practical method to confirm infection by this microorganism, as well as a tool for seroepidemiological studies.     

Chemoprophylaxis of fascioliasis with triclabendazole

In a field experiment, moderate to heavy natural concomitant infections with immature and mature Fasciola hepatica were treated with triclabendazole at a dose rate of 10 mg/kg and an efficiency of 99.8% was achieved. Subsequent treatments of all susceptible farm animals at the same dose rate at intervals of eight to eleven weeks were carried out for 14 months; no patent infections could be detected in sheep and cattle during the whole period. Evidence is presented that pasture contamination with liver fluke was reduced to a negligible level for a further 12 months after the final treatment. It is suggested that, if regular treatments with triclabendazole are given within the pre-patent period of Fasciola hepatica infection for the whole season, the infection can be eradicated or reduced to such a low level that control of the disease could be maintained with less frequent strategic drenching for a considerable period.     

Comparison of blocking dot ELISA and competitive ELISA, using a monoclonal antibody for detection of bluetongue virus antibodies in cattle.

A blocking (B) dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against a group specific antigen of bluetongue virus (BTV) is described for the detection of BTV antibodies to BTV in cattle sera. Dots of BTV antigens were adsorbed to nitrocellulose (NC) strips and/or NC mounted in the windows of dipsticks. After blocking the remaining sites of the NC paper with milk powder solution and immersion in the test sample, the NC strips and dipsticks were exposed to mAb. Bound mAb was detected with peroxidase conjugated anti-mouse IgG (H and L). In the absence of anti-BTV antibody in the test sample, BTV antigen sites were reactive with mAb as indicated by a brown colored dot in the presence of the enzyme substrate, hydrogen peroxide and diaminobenzidine. In the presence of sufficient anti-BTV antibodies no color reaction was observed. The performance of these assays in detecting anti-BTV antibody in field blood eluate samples, prepared from whole blood dried on filter paper, from 395 bluetongue-free cattle in Canada and 635 sentinel cattle in Florida, USA, was evaluated and compared with the standard competitive (C) ELISA. The specificity of the dipstick B-dot ELISA was identical to that of the C-ELISA in testing of BT-free Canadian cattle but not in the testing of samples from the sentinel cattle in Florida, resulting in values of 100% diagnostic and 88.9% relative specificity, respectively. Based on the C-ELISA, the specificity of the NC strip B-dot ELISA was low and in the same order as that of the dipstick assay.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

MM3-ELISA evaluation of coproantigen release and serum antibody production in sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica

During an experimental infection of sheep with Fasciola hepatica or F. gigantica, MM3-SERO and MM3-COPRO ELISA tests were applied to compare the kinetics of antibody production and coproantigen release between the 2nd and 32nd week post-infection (wpi). The Kato-Katz technique was used to measure the kinetics of egg shedding by both Fasciola species (eggs per gram of feces, epg). The kinetics of IgG antibodies for all sheep infected with F. hepatica and F. gigantica followed a similar pattern. Optical density (OD) increased rapidly between the 4th until the 12th wpi, when the highest values were reached and then decreased slowly until the 32nd wpi. Coproantigen levels increased above the cut-off value between 6 and 9 wpi in the F. hepatica group, and between 9 and 11 wpi in the F. gigantica group. The comparison between coproantigen levels and epg indicated that F. hepatica-infected sheep had detectable amounts of coproantigens 4–7 weeks before patency (egg shedding), while F. gigantica-infected sheep had detectable amounts of coproantigens 3–6 weeks before patency. When comparing the kinetics of coproantigen release vs the kinetics of epg, a similar pattern emerged, but with a two-week time-lag in epg, for both F. hepatica and F. gigantica infections. The amount of coproantigen release by each adult was not burden dependent for F. hepatica infection (burden of 33–66 adults), while it was for F. gigantica infection (burden of 17–69 adults). The results demonstrate the usefulness of the MM3-SERO and MM3-COPRO ELISAs as tools for the diagnosis of early as well as long-term fascioliasis infections, and suggest that they can potentially be applied to human fascioliasis even in countries where F. hepatica and F. gigantica co-exist. These tests can be employed not only in the diagnosis, but also in studies on epidemiology as well as pathogenesis and treatment in animals and humans since they allow post-treatment infection monitoring.     

Antibodies to mycobacteria in cattle not infected with Mycobacterium bovis

An indirect anti-IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a whole cell sonicate of Mycobacterium bovis as the coating antigen, was used to detect anti-mycobacterial antibodies in cattle not infected with M. bovis. False positive M. bovis ELISA scores were produced in 6 cattle experimentally inoculated with Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare-scrofulaceum (MAIS) serovars 2, 8, 9, 14 and 18 and Mycobacterium flavescens, respectively. False positive ELISA results were also found in 39.5% of cattle from which other mycobacteria were cultured and in 56.4% of necropsied cattle with other pathological conditions. No M. bovis was cultured from these animals. Other groups of animals, with no pathological conditions, which had been tuberculin-tested negative, tuberculin-tested positive and never tuberculin tested showed positive ELISA results in 15.4%, 73.6% and 42.4% of the respective groups. The variation of these non-specific responses in uninfected cattle highlights the need for careful selection of negative controls in evaluating ELISAs for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis.     

Comparison of the Q-fever complement fixation test and two commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of serum antibodies against Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever) in ruminants: Recommendations for use of serological tests on imported animals in New Zealand

Abstract

AIM: To make valid recommendations on the use of serological test methods for the detection of serum antibodies in ruminants against Coxiella burnetii (Q-fever), by comparing the performance of the complement fixation test (CFT) and two ELISA, and by identifying reasons for discrepancies between the test methods.

METHODS: A total of 73 serum samples from infected cattle, 69 from infected goats, and 100 samples from non-infected cattle and 57 samples from non-infected sheep, as well as 95 samples from infected cattle herds (mix of seropositive and seronegative samples), were tested using the CFT, the IDEXX ELISA (I-ELISA) and the Pourquier ELISA (P-ELISA). A mixed panel of 12 serum samples from sheep from inter-laboratory proficiency testing (proficiency panel) was also tested using the CFT and both ELISA, and further investigated using IgG- and IgM-specific ELISA.

RESULTS: Generally, the two commercial ELISA were more sensitive than the CFT for the detection of infected ruminants. Good agreement between ELISA for positive and negative results was found for samples from the infected herd, while results for the positive panels varied between the two ELISA. For the total of the positive serum panels, the I-ELISA detected 95% of samples as positive or suspicious, while the P-ELISA detected only 81%. In the P-ELISA, more samples were considered suspicious (18%) than in the I-ELISA (14%). All sera from noninfected sheep and cattle tested negative in the serological test methods employed, except for one positive sample from a sheep in the P-ELISA. Further investigation revealed that a CFT-positive but ELISA-negative result was due to high IgM and low IgG reactivity.

CONCLUSIONS: The two commercial ELISA were more sensitive than the CFT in all panels from infected ruminants. However, they could only detect IgG. The I-ELISA should be the serological test method of choice for cattle, sheep and goats for import testing of animals into New Zealand because it was more sensitive than the P-ELISA and was equally specific to the PELISA and the CFT. For other animal species, such as deer and camelids, the CFT should still be used since none of the ELISA has been evaluated for these species. This study has shown that the two commercial ELISA will detect the majority of infected ruminants but may miss animals that have not developed an IgG response.     

The prevalence and economic significance of Fasciola gigantica and Stilesia hepatica in slaughtered animals in the semi-arid coastal Kenya

Fasciola gigantica and Stilesia hepatica constrain ruminant productivity. The prevalence and economic losses caused by F. gigantica and S. hepatica in the ruminant production systems of Taveta division of Kenya were estimated in a retrospective appraisal of the slaughter records on the total number of animals slaughtered and livers condemned over the period 1989 to 2004. Only liver condemnations based on infestation by F. gigantica and S. hepatica were considered for purposes of this study. Liver condemnation rates differed significantly between bovines, caprines and ovines (p≤ 0.05) for F. gigantica (26%, 6.6% and 5.2%, respectively) and for S. hepatica (0.4%, 22% and 28%, respectively). The total loss through condemnation of both F. gigantica and S. hepatica infested livers was 4 408 272 KES (Kenyan shillings) (US$ 72 272). The proportion of loss in bovines, caprines and ovines, was 76%, 17% and 7%, respectively. Fasciolosis contributed 3 505 410 KES (79.5%) and S. hepatica infestation 903 210 KES (20.5%) to the total losses due to liver condemnations. The authors feel strongly that there is a need for more work on the two parasites using live animals to determine the prevalence in animals of various ages, species and breeds and the economics of disease control at farm level.     

Evaluation of ELISA in the serodiagnosis of bovine farcy

Mycobacterium farcinogenes is the causal agent of bovine farcy, a chronic infectious disease of zebu cattle in some parts of tropical Africa. Whole cell homologous antigen of M. farcinogenes was used in the standardization and evaluation of an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of circulating antibodies against bovine farcy using sera from confirmed bovine farcy and from bovine farcy-free cattle. The cut-off optical density (OD) value was decided at 1.8 using filter 405nm after one hour of incubation at 37°C. Accordingly, 115 out of 124 (92.7%) serum samples from clinically proven bovine farcy cattle were reported sero-positive. Sera from cattle infected with M. avium and M. paratuberculosis revealed OD value <1.8, indicating the differential diagnostic ability of M. farcinogenes antigen. Our test sensitivity was 92.7% and specificity was 97%, therefore could be routinely employed to support early clinical diagnosis, epidemiological surveys and for screening animals before exportation to farcy-free regions.     

Evaluation of a recombinant LigB protein of Leptospira interrogans serovar Canicola in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the serodiagnosis of bovine leptospirosis

A recombinant leptospiral lipoprotein, LigB, was evaluated for use in the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (rLigB IgG ELISA). The standard reference test (Microscopic agglutination test, MAT) of 200 serum samples from cattle suspected of leptospirosis showed that 95 (47.5%) samples had positive agglutination titres, which ranged from 100 to 1600. In rLigB IgG ELISA, 49% of the samples were positive. Sensitivity of IgG ELISA for 95 bovine sera, which had MAT titres of greater than or equal to 100, were 100%. ELISA showed a specificity of 97.1% with 105 bovine sera, which were negative at a 1:50 dilution in MAT for Leptospira interrogans serovars. The results of ELISA and MAT correspond very good. When analytical specificity of IgG ELISA was evaluated using bovine serum samples from animals showing the serum antibodies to other pathogens, no cross-reaction was observed. Thus the recombinant LigB IgG ELISA can be used instead of the MAT as an aid to the diagnosis of bovine leptospirosis.     

Developing a double-antigen sandwich ELISA for effective detection of human hepatitis B core antibody

A new double-antigen sandwich ELISA for detecting antibody against the human hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) was developed, with recombinant HBc (rHBcAg) immobilized on the solid phase of the plate and a HRP–rHBcAg conjugation for detection. The rHBcAg was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by a monoclonal antibody (against HBcAg) specific affinity chromatography. This sandwich ELISA could give a semi-quantitative measurement of anti-HBc concentration in the specimen and was 32–256-folds more sensitive than the competitive ELISA. Total of 942 clinical serum samples were tested in parallel by the sandwich ELISA and the commercially competitive ELISA kit. Overall agreement of 98.4% (927 of 942 cases) was obtained. Ten of 15 (67%) discordant specimens reactive by the sandwich assay but negative by the competitive ELISA resulted from the increased sensitivity of the sandwich assay, as other hepatitis B markers present indicated previously or currently being exposed to HBV.     

牛γ-干扰素ELISA检测方法的建立与初步应用

以纯化的rHis-BoIFN-γ制备兔多抗血清,辛酸—硫酸铵两步法对体内诱生的抗rBoIFN-γ单抗腹水进行纯化,用美洲商陆素（Pokeweed mitogen,PWM）刺激奶牛全血产生的分泌性天然BoIFN-γ筛选出与之反应最佳的单抗5E11。将单抗5E11以40μg/mL浓度包被,与1∶3 000倍稀释的兔抗rHis-BoIFN-γ多抗血清（13.8μg/mL）配对,以1∶6 000稀释的商品化酶标羊抗兔IgG为指示抗体,建立了BoIFN-γ抗原捕获ELISA检测方法,该方法可以检出2.56 U/100μL（30.5 pg/100μL）的rHis-BoIFN-γ、8U/100μL的rBac-BoIFN-γ和1U/100μL的分泌性天然BoIFN-γ。以商品化试剂盒作为平行对照,将获得的奶牛临床检测血浆样品使用BoIFN-γ抗原捕获ELISA法进行检测,结果显示两种方法检测符合率达到83.9%。本研究建立的BoIFN-γ抗原捕获ELISA检测方法可有效检测分泌性IFN-γ,为进一步开发BoIFN-γELISA检测试剂盒奠定了基础。     

鸡白细胞介素18双抗体夹心ELISA检测方法的建立及初步应用

应用识别不同表位的鸡白细胞介素18成熟蛋白（Mature chicken interleukin-18,mChIL-18）的2株单克隆抗体（mAb）1G9和2E6,建立检测mChlL-18的双抗体夹心ELISA,并利用此方法对禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒（Reticuloendotheliosis virus,REV）人工感染SPF鸡体内mChIL-18的分泌水平进行检测。结果显示,捕获抗体的最佳质量浓度为8mg／L,检测抗体的工作效价为1：800,待检样品的最佳稀释度为1：400,检测敏感度可达31．5ng／L,与其他细胞因子等抗原蛋白无交叉反应;跟对照组相比,REV感染鸡体内mChIL-18的表达量在7、14、21、28、35、42、49d均呈现升高,但只有14日龄时表现差异显著（P〈0．05）。结果表明,本试验成功建立了ChIL-18的双抗体夹心ELISA,为鸡传染病的细胞免疫学研究提供了可靠方法。     

The prevalence and economic significance of liver disorders and contamination in grain-fed and grass-fed cattle

SUMMARY Livers were examined from 5,647 grain-fed and 621 grass-fed cattle of similar breed, age and weight, killed at a Queensland abattoir in 1980–81. The prevalences of disorders found in grain-fed cattle were liver abscesses 5.6% and 11.1% (after 80 and 120 days in the feedlot), telangiectasis 8.4%, Echinococcus granulosis 3.3%, Fasciola hepatica 0.4%, unclassified lesions 7.4%, and contamination 3.2%. In grass-fed cattle liver abscesses were 0.2%, telangiectasis 1.0%, E. granulosis 18.9%, F. hepatica 5.4%, unclassified lesions 6.5%, and contamination 1.0%. Liver abscess disease was the main cause of loss in grain-fed cattle and the mean carcase weight of affected steers was 298kg±42kg, compared wiith 308kg±40kg in non-affected (p 0.01). Liver weights of grain-fed and grass-fed cattle were highly significantly correlated with carcase weights (r - 0.78 and 0.49 respectively). Total losses were $2.25 per head in grain-fed steers and $0.90 in grass-fed steers.