Kinetic ELISA for detection of antibodies to Psoroptes sp. (Acari: Psoroptidae) in bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis).
A kinetic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed using antigenic extracts prepared from Psoroptes cuniculi mites and sera from 37 Psoroptes sp.-infested and 43 uninfested bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis). Serial dilutions of these serum samples, representing 3 bighorn sheep subspecies and 9 geographic areas, gave parallel responses when plotted as log dilution versus log kinetic rate. Therefore, all 80 samples were run at a single dilution (1:100) and positive/negative cutoff values were established as the mean kinetic rate of all negative sera plus either 2, 3, or 4 standard deviations. The resulting ELISA was highly reproducible and accurate with sensitivities and specificities of 100% and 97.7%, 94.6% and 97.7%, and 94.6% and 100%, respectively. This immunoassay will be useful for prospective and retrospective studies assessing the distribution and prevalence of Psoroptes sp. infestations in bighorn sheep.
Boyce
W M
WM
Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis 95616.
Mazet
J A
JA
Mellies
J
J
Gardner
I
I
Clark
R K
RK
Jessup
D A
DA
D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007700:Kinetics; D008924:Mite Infestations / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012418:Ruminants / Q000469:parasitology*
D000906:Antibodies