Diagnosis of bovine brucellosis by enzyme immunoassay of milk

Enzyme-immunoassays using lipopolysaccharide as antigen were developed for the detection of bovine IgG1, IgG2 or IgA Brucella antibodies (Ab) in milk. The results of these tests were compared with those of the milk ring test (MRT) by analyzing 3212 bulk milk samples from farms located in regions where brucellosis is prevalent. Among the 105 herds detected by ELISA and/or MRT, 29 infected herds were detected by ELISA only. The 40 MRT-positive herds were also ELISA positive. Five herds became infected during the study and were detected by ELISA 15 days to 6 months prior to detection by MRT. The ELISA IgG1 titration (IgG1 ELISA) detected 92.8% of the herds found positive in the three ELISA assays. The concomitant use of IgA ELISA raised the sensitivity to 100% but slightly decreased the specificity. The IgG2 ELISA did not improve the diagnosis. The sensitivity of MRT and IgG1 ELISA was compared by testing successive dilutions in negative milk of 110 individual MRT positive milks samples. On average, IgG1 ELISA was 22 times more sensitive than MRT.     

Validation of a second generation competitive enzyme immunoassay (CELISA) for the diagnosis of brucellosis in various species of domestic animals

A second generation competitive enzyme immunoassay (CELISA) for detection of bovine antibody to Brucella abortus was developed to eliminate reagent variables in the assay. This assay was different from earlier CELISA formats in that it used recombinant protein A and protein G immunoglobulin receptors (PAG), labelled with horseradish peroxidase, thus eliminating the requirement for polyclonal anti-mouse-enzyme conjugate for detection. This allowed standardization of the assay. The CELISA uses a monoclonal antibody specific for a common epitope of the O-polysaccharide (OPS) of smooth lipopolysaccharide (SLPS) derived from B. abortus S1119.3. This antibody did not react with PAG. This monoclonal antibody was used to compete with antibody in the bovine test serum to the smooth lipopolysaccharide (SLPS) antigen. Reaction of bovine antibody was then measured directly with the PAG enzyme conjugate. In this case, development of colour in the reaction indicated a positive reaction. The performance characteristics of the new CELISA, sensitivity, specificity and exclusion of antibody of B. abortus S19 vaccinated animals, were very similar to those of the classical CELISA and to the indirect enzyme immunoassay (IELISA) when using sera deemed positive by isolation of the bacterium, either from individual animals or from some animals on the premises. All sera were tested by the buffered antigen plate agglutination test (BPAT) and the complement fixation test (CFT). Only samples positive on both BPAT and CFT were considered as positive and only samples negative on both tests were used considered negative. Sufficient samples from cattle, swine, sheep and goats to validate the test were included based on OIE guidelines suggesting inclusion of a minimum of 300 positive and 1000 negative samples.     

Enzyme immunoassay for the diagnosis of brucellosis: chimeric Protein A-Protein G as a common enzyme labeled detection reagent for sera for different animal species

A recombinant protein combining the immunoglobulin binding sites of Proteins A and G, conjugated with horseradish peroxidase was used as a universal detection reagent for the assessment of antibodies against Brucella spp. The reagent was applied in an indirect enzyme immunoassay for detection of antibodies to smooth lipopolysaccharide antigen in sera from Brucella spp. exposed and non-exposed cattle, sheep, goats and pigs and to antibodies to rough lipopolysaccharide in sheep, dogs and cattle. The results were similar to those obtained when murine monoclonal antibody-enzyme conjugates were used. An added advantage was that a universal cut-off for all tests using the proteins A and G detection reagent could be established, simplifying diagnostic interpretation of the data.     

Ovine echinococcosis I. Immunological diagnosis by enzyme immunoassay

Immunodiagnosis in sheep presents problems of sensitivity and specificity, limiting its applicability in surveillance systems. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive, specific and accessible technique for diagnosing cystic echinococcosis in naturally infected sheep and to evaluate the validity of necropsy as a reference test. A total of 247 sheep were studied at slaughterhouses, confirming the parasitological diagnosis with histology. Serum was processed with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using three antigen preparations: total hydatid liquid (LHT), purified fraction of LHT (S2B) and purified lipoprotein (B). Western Blot (WB) was used as a control. EIA proved effective for differentiating Echinococcus granulosus from larval stage of Taenia hydatigena and intestinal cestodes in all three antigen preparations. Serums from macroscopically negative sheep were reactive to EIA and positive with WB. In the whole flock, sensitivity was 89.2% for LHT, 80.0% for S2B and 86.4% for B. Sensitivity in lambs was 78.6% for LHT, 75.0% for S2B and 64.3% for B. Macroscopic diagnosis at the time of slaughter was found to have limitations as a reference test for immunodiagnosis of cystic equinococcosis in sheep, so it was necessary to include histology and WB as reference tests. LHT was the antigen preparation of greatest value and EIA proved to be a sensitive and specific technique, adequate for surveillance systems and for evaluating control programmes.     

Serological diagnosis of brucellosis

Extract

As the incidence of brucellosis is being reduced in many countries throughout the world, import requirements are becoming more stringent. Pressure is being applied in certain countries to establish regulations that will permit the import of cattle and meat products from brucellosis-free areas only. Countries such as New Zealand that have an important export trade in meat should be ready to comply with these import regulations when they come into effect. It is with this in mind that the New Zealand Department of Agriculture is undertaking a more extensive brucellosis control programme in the near future.     

A direct enzyme immunoassay for the measurement of furosemide in horse plasma

A new enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the measurement of furosemide in horse plasma is described. The lower limit of detection of this EIA method was 7.8 ng/ml. The intra-and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged from 2.5% to 4.9% and 7.5% to 9.8%, respectively. Cross-reactivity with other compounds was not observed. There was a high correlation (r2=0.987) between the high-performance liquid chromatography and EIA results obtained for furosemide concentrations in horse plasma. These results indicate that the newly developed EIA method is useful for the quantitative analysis of furosemide in horse plasma.     

A capture-enzyme immunoassay for rapid diagnosis of transmissible gastroenteritis virus.

Two enzyme immunoassays (EIA) were developed for the detection of swine transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) antigens. The 2 EIAs used the same detecting system, a monoclonal antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase, but used different capture systems including a monoclonal antibody (m-EIA) or a polyclonal antibody (p-EIA). The EIAs were compared with the fluorescent antibody test (FAT) and electron microscopy (EM) for the detection of TGEV in intestinal samples of experimentally inoculated gnotobiotic piglets and of conventional diarrheic pigs submitted for diagnosis. In the gnotobiotic piglets experimentally inoculated with TGEV, 81.8% (9/11) were positive for TGEV by p-EIA, and 72.7% (8/11) were positive by m-EIA. In comparison, 81.8% (9/11) were positive by FAT and 27.2% (3/11) were positive by EM. Three noninfected controls were negative by all tests. In the diagnostic samples, 86.0% (43/50) were positive by p-EIA, 68.2% (30/44) were positive by m-EIA, 28.6% (14/49) were positive by IFA, and 38.0% (19/50) were positive by EM. The m-EIA had a higher agreement with FAT and EM than did p-EIA.     

A class capture enzyme immunoassay for immunoglobulin level determinations in bovine sera.

An enzyme immunoassay for determination of individual isotype concentrations in bovine serum was developed. Polystyrene tubes were coated with affinity purified goat antibovine IgA, IgG1, IgG2 or IgM, washed and then incubated with purified isotypes to ascertain crossreactivity and sensitivity limits. Bound isotype was detected using the homologous affinity purified antibody conjugated to horseradish peroxidase and hydrogen peroxide-2,2-azino-di-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulfonic acid), as the substrate/chromogen. A standardized serum was diluted and used as a control for comparison. Several dilutions were used initially, however, determinations may be made with a single dilution, 1:200, for all isotypes. Results for 100 sera were compared to data obtained with the same samples using a radial immunodiffusion technique. A low correlation coefficient was noted between results from the two assays. Day to day variation and within test repeatability were determined for both assays using ten samples. For the enzyme immunoassay method, day to day variation for IgA, IgM, IgG1 and IgG2 determinations was 17.5, 19.3, 7.6 and 7.3% while variation in repeatability (within a test) was 6.2, 5.9, 3.3 and 4.5%, respectively. Day to day variation for the single radial immunodiffusion test for IgA, IgM, IgG1 and IgG2 was 15.4, 26.0, 11.5 and 18.3% and variation repeatability (within a test) was 11.6, 13.9, 5.9 and 8.3%, respectively. The procedures consistently detected 0.1 micrograms of immunoglobulin whereas the radial diffusion sensitivity limit was approximately 500 micrograms.     

动物布鲁菌病补体结合试验诊断方法比较研究

布鲁菌病是造成严重公共卫生安全和经济损失的人畜共患病,目前对该病的血清学诊断方法主要有凝集试验、ELISA、补体结合试验等,其中补体结合试验(CFT)是世界动物卫生组织(OIE)认可的布病血清学确诊的经典标准方法。但在实际布病检验中,由于其原理复杂、操作繁琐、影响因素多、耗时长等原因而未能被广泛应用。为了进一步明晰其原理,提高CFT的可操作性及准确性,本文比较了我国动物布鲁菌病标准和OIE手册中CFT的差异,并结合本实验室应用情况,对CFT在布鲁菌病诊断中常见的问题和注意事项进行了阐述,为布鲁菌病补体结合试验的科学应用及诊断提供了参考。     

Comparative assessment of a double antibody enzyme immunoassay test kit and a triple antibody enzyme immunoassay for the diagnosis of Trichinella spiralis spiralis and Trichinella spiralis nativa infections in swine.

Enzyme immunoassays using the triple antibody enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with both Trichinella spiralis spiralis and T. spiralis nativa excretory-secretory (ES) antigens and a commercial Trichinella spiralis enzyme immunoassay test kit were carried out on sera from pigs that were infected with light, moderate and high doses of infective T. spiralis spiralis and T. spiralis nativa respectively. Seroconversion occurred in all pigs given infective Trichinella larvae although no trichinae were recovered from pigs given T. spiralis nativa larvae and examined between days 92 and 99 postinfection by pepsin digestion. Anti-Trichinella antibodies were detected in pigs infected with T. spiralis spiralis and T. spiralis nativa by ELISA using either the homologous or heterologous ES antigen. The commercial Trichinella spiralis enzyme immunoassay test kit also detected anti-Trichinella antibodies in both the T. spiralis spiralis and T. spiralis nativa infected pigs. The commercial test kit did not appear to be as sensitive as the triple antibody ELISA since it usually took two to three days longer for seroconversion to be detected by the former procedure. Finally seroconversion occurred more rapidly in swine infected with T. spiralis spiralis than with pigs receiving comparable doses of T. spiralis nativa.