ELISA for detecting antibodies to Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies mycoides small colony (SC) in naturally infected cattle from the 1995 outbreak in Botswana

MAROBELA·RABOROKGWE. C., NICHOlAS, R. , AYLING , R. & BASHIRUOOIN, J .S. 2003. Comparison of complement fixation test, Irrmunoblotting, indirect ELISA, and compelitive ELISA for detecting antibodies to Mycoplasma mycoldes subspecies mycokJes small colony (SC) in naturally Infected cattle from the 1995 outbreak in Botswana. Onderstepoort Journal of veterinary Research, 70:21 27 Four serological tests were compared in Ofder to evaluate their efficacies In detecting antibodies to M. mycoides subspecies mycoides SC In cattle sera sampled in 1995 from herds affected with con· taglous bovine pleuropneumonia (CSPP) In the north·westem part of Botswana . Tests that were compared included immunQblotllng test (IBn , indirect enzyme-linked immunosor· bent assay (i.ELlSA), competitive enzyme· linked Immunosorbent assay (c-ELISA) and complement fixalioo lest (CFT). The percentages of seropositive samples in the iELISA (48%) and in the c·ELlSA (48 %) were slm~ar buI were comparatively lower than those obtained by the IBT (57%) and CFT (61 %). The percentages of positive sera In the 1ST and CFT were atso similar and averaR the efficacy of these tests was bener than that of tile two ELISA tests. There was 95.5 % agreement between the 1ST and CFT, 85 % agreement between the IBT and c-ELISA, 90.9 % agreement between the 1ST and i·ELlSA, 88.6 % agreement between the i·ELlSA and CFT, 80 % agreement between the c·EUSA and CFT and 90 % agreement between the two ELISA tests. It became clearly evident from this comparative study that no single serological test was capable of detecting all animals affected by CSPP ullder natural field conditions of Infection.