Detection of bovine antibodies to the outer membrane of ruminal Bacteroides succinogenes by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect bovine serum antibodies directed to the outer membrane antigen of a ruminal bacteria, Bacteroides succinogenes. The outer membrane antigen of B. succinogenes was highly reactive against homologous antiserum, compared with rabbit sera raised against B. ruminicola subsp. ruminicola, B. ruminicola subsp. brevis and Selenomonas ruminantium. The titers of sera from colostrum-deprived calves were negligible level, while those of sera from colostrum-fed calves were relatively high. The mean titer of sera from 10 day-old calves was significantly (p less than 0.01) higher than that of 40 day-old calves, and was significantly (p less than 0.01) lower than that of adult cattle. The mean titer of sera from dairy cows which fed high-roughage diet was higher than that of feedlot cattle which fed high-concentrate diet. These results suggest that the antibodies against the outer membrane antigen of B. succinogenes transfer to calves via the colostrum, and that the titers of cows are affected by the way of feed management.