Improved detection of equine antibodies against Sarcocystis neurona using polyvalent ELISAs based on the parasite SnSAG surface antigens

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a common neurologic disease of horses that is caused by the apicomplexan pathogen Sarcocystis neurona. To help improve serologic diagnosis of S. neurona infection, we have modified existing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on the immunogenic parasite surface antigens SnSAG2, SnSAG3, and SnSAG4 to make the assays polyvalent, thereby circumventing difficulties associated with parasite antigenic variants and diversity in equine immune responses. Two approaches were utilized to achieve polyvalence: (1) mixtures of the individual recombinant SnSAGs (rSnSAGs) were included in single ELISAs; (2) a collection of unique SnSAG chimeras that fused protein domains from different SnSAG surface antigens into a single recombinant protein were generated for use in the ELISAs. These new assays were assessed using a defined sample set of equine sera and cerebrospinal fluids (CSFs) that had been characterized by Western blot and/or were from confirmed EPM horses. While all of the polyvalent ELISAs performed relatively well, the highest sensitivity and specificity (100%/100%) were achieved with assays containing the rSnSAG4/2 chimera (Domain 1 of SnSAG4 fused to SnSAG2) or using a mixture of rSnSAG3 and rSnSAG4. The rSnSAG4 antigen alone and the rSnSAG4/3 chimera (Domain 1 of SnSAG4 fused to Domain 2 of SnSAG3) exhibited the next best accuracy at 95.2% sensitivity and 100% specificity. Binding ratios and percent positivity (PP) ratios, determined by comparing the mean values for positive versus negative samples, showed that the most advantageous signal to noise ratios were provided by rSnSAG4 and the rSnSAG4/3 chimera. Collectively, our results imply that a polyvalent ELISA based on SnSAG4 and SnSAG3, whether as a cocktail of two proteins or as a single chimeric protein, can give optimal results in serologic testing of serum or CSF for the presence of antibodies against S. neurona. The use of polyvalent SnSAG ELISAs will enhance the reliability of serologic testing for S. neurona infection, which should lead to improved diagnosis of EPM.     

Diagnosis of canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis): An overview

Canine monocytotropic ehrlichiosis (CME), caused by the rickettsia Ehrlichia canis, an important canine disease with a worldwide distribution. Diagnosis of the disease can be challenging due to its different phases and multiple clinical manifestations. CME should be suspected when a compatible history (living in or traveling to an endemic region, previous tick exposure), typical clinical signs and characteristic hematological and biochemical abnormalities are present. Traditional diagnostic techniques including hematology, cytology, serology and isolation are valuable diagnostic tools for CME, however a definitive diagnosis of E. canis infection requires molecular techniques. This article reviews the current literature covering the diagnosis of infection caused by E. canis.     

绿脓杆菌快速诊断原的制备与应用研究

使用绿脓杆菌PA-SD-1株制备平板凝集诊断原,鉴定合格后,对山东不同地区的三个羊场进行绿脓杆菌的血清学调查,结果表明羊只绿脓杆菌平均感染率为67.2%,最高可达81.6%。对羊场周围土样和场内粪便进行绿脓杆菌的分离,并用NAC鉴别培养基进行该菌的鉴定和小鼠攻毒试验,结果表明绿脓杆菌广泛存在于羊场周围环境中。     

Porcine circovirus type 2 antibody detection in backyard pigs from Mexico City

PCV2 antibodies have been found in pigs from all continents. However, this finding has been mainly studied in domestic swine reared under intensive production conditions. Mexico City, with a human population over 19 million in 2005, has both urban and rural areas. The pig production in its rural area is based on small family backyard farms. Taking into account this rather unique form of rearing pigs, the objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence in backyard pigs from the rural area of Mexico City. A total of 695 backyard pig serum samples from 108 small family farms belonging to seven municipal areas were studied by immunoperoxidase monolayer assay technique. One hundred six out of the 108 family farms (98.14%) had at least one positive serum sample. On the other hand, 136 (19.57%), 264 (37.99%) and 248 (34.82%) pigs had low, intermediate and high titres to PCV2, respectively. Only 53 samples (7.63%) were negative for PCV2 antibodies. No apparent differences in antibody titre groups were observed among backyard pigs from the different municipal areas. In conclusion, the present study, the first one performed in this kind of extensively produced pigs, indicates that PCV2 is ubiquitous in backyard pigs from Mexico City.     

Evaluation of the diagnostic accuracy of the modified agglutination test (MAT) and an indirect ELISA for the detection of serum antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in sheep through Bayesian approaches

The diagnostic accuracies of the modified agglutination test (MAT) and indirect ELISA test for the detection of serum antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in sheep were evaluated through Bayesian approaches on two populations of sheep created from three different groups of animals (T. gondii-aborted ewes, colostrums-deprived newborn lambs, and ewe-lambs and adult ewes with unknown T. gondii infection status). Tests showed a high degree of agreement (kappa statistic = 0.93; 95% confidence interval = 0.87, 0.98) and a significant specificity (Sp) correlation (gamma(Sp) = 0.26; 95% credibility interval = 0.017, 0.61). When prior information was used for all unknown parameters the posterior medians for the sensitivity (Se) and Sp of the MAT and ELISA were, respectively, 92.6% (95% credibility interval = 85.2, 96.9), 95.5% (89.9, 98.7), 90.5% (83.4, 95.6), and 97.8% (94.2, 99.5). These estimates remained similar when uninformative priors were included. The Se estimates of the MAT and ELISA were higher than those obtained on pigs in other study using the same approach (Se = 80.6% and Sp = 89.5% for the MAT, and Se = 71.5% and Sp = 85.5% for the ELISA [Georgiadis, M.P., Wesley, O.J., Gardner, I.A., Singh, R., 2003. Correlation-adjusted estimation of sensitivity and specificity of two diagnostic tests. Appl. Stat. 52, 63-78]. This finding supported the believe that test performances may vary when applied on different animal species. Thus, if these tests are planned to be used on animal species other than sheep or pigs, their diagnostic accuracy should be re-assessed to prevent biased inferences from their results.     

Diversity of indigenous Bradyrhizobium japonicum in North Carolina soils

Summary The diversity of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in agricultural fields has not been well characterized. Therefore a study was conducted to determine the serotypic diversity of B. japonicum both within and among six fields in the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of North Carolina where soybeans [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are grown. Nodule samples were collected from non-inoculated standing soybean crops. Both nodules and isolates were typed by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Serotypes and their proportions varied both within and among locations. Common serotypes in order of abundance across all sites were 76, M1 (multiple reaction beyween 31 and 94), 94, 24, and 122, and together accounted for over 66% of the typable reactions. No cultivar effect on serotype distribution was observed. Unknown types ranged from 4 to 24%. Based on the total number of serotypes identified and the Shannon diversity index (H), the mean population diversity was 0.76 for the Piedmont sites and 0.91 for the Coastal Plain sites.Paper no. 12315 of the Journal Series of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, Raleigh, NC 27695-7643. The use of trade names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service of the products named or criticism of similar ones not mentioned     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of avian influenza virus subtypes H5 and H7 antibodies

Background

Avian influenza virus (AIV) subtypes H5 and H7 attracts particular attention because of the risk of their potential pathogenicity in poultry. The haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test is widely used as subtype specific test for serological diagnostics despite the laborious nature of this method. However, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are being explored as an alternative test method.H5 and H7 specific monoclonal antibodies were experimentally raised and used in the development of inhibition ELISAs for detection of serological response specifically directed against AIV subtypes H5 and H7. The ELISAs were evaluated with polyclonal chicken anti-AIV antibodies against AIV subtypes: H1N2, H5N2, H5N7, H7N1, H7N7, H9N9, H10N4 and H16N3.

Results

Both the H5 and H7 ELISA proved to have a high sensitivity and specificity and the ELISAs detected H5 and H7 antibodies earlier during experimental infection than the HI test did. The reproducibility of the ELISA’s performed at different times was high with Pearson correlation coefficients of 0.96-0.98.

Conclusions

The ELISAs are a potential alternative to the HI test for screening of large amounts of avian sera, although only experimental sera were tested in this study.     

螺原体检测方法概述

螺原体（spiroplasma）是一种个体极小（直径约为100～250nm）,基本形态为螺旋形的无细胞壁的原核微生物。1973年建立了螺原体属（Spiroplasma）。与一般细菌相比,螺原体的研究方法,特别是螺原体的检测方法比较特殊。对4种螺原体检测方法,即分离培养、显微镜检查、血清学检测以及分子生物学检测方法进行了概述。     

C型口蹄疫病毒型特异性抗原的表达与鉴定

[目的]为C型FMDV型特异性多克隆抗体、单克隆抗体的制备及FMDV定型提供理论依据。[方法]以含有C型口蹄疫病毒（FMDV）结构蛋白基因VP1的重组质粒pGEM—CP1为模板,设计特异性表达引物,扩增VP1及其C端编码区。对C型口蹄疫病毒VP1及其C端进行原核表达,并测定反应原性。利用纯化的C型VP1及其C端融合蛋白建立间接ELISA,分别对O、A、C、Asia14型豚鼠阳性血清进行检测,确定C型VP1及其C端与其他3型FMDV抗体的型间交叉反应性。[结果]构建了pPRO-CVP1、pPRBO-CVP1c重组原核表达质粒,实现了C型口蹄疫病毒VP1及其C端的高效表达,目的蛋白的分子量大小分别为33和20kD。Westernblot显示。VPl及其C端融合蛋白均可与对应血清型的豚鼠阳性血清反应。C型VP1及其C端与其他血清型的FMDv阳性血清均未发生交叉反应。且以VP1c端的型特异性最好。[结论]获得了C型FMDV特异性抗原。     

柑桔黄龙病病原物提纯方法和血清学的初步研究

从感染柑桔黄龙病的长春花中,用0.1mol/L MgCl_2—0.5mol/L甘露醇-0.6mol/L甘氨酸的混合溶液作黄龙病病原物(YSO yellow sbootO rgancism)分离溶液(pH7.4),然后用纤维素酶酶解法和差速离心相结合的提纯程序,反复试验结果表明该提纯方法重复性稳定,黄龙病病原物(YSO)的提纯产量较高,完整性较好,内外结构清晰。用提纯液备制小鼠腹水抗体,得到微量沉淀反应效价为1:640,环状界凝集反应效性为1:8,免疫电镜效价1:320,琼脂双扩散反应阴性,对照为阴性反应,从而认为YSO具有特异抗原性。