title: Prevalence of antibodies to Streptococcus bovis serotype 1 in racing pigeons.
abstract: Indirect ELISA techniques for the detection of antibodies to S. bovis serotypes 1, 2 and 3 in pigeon plasma were developed. Whole formaldehyde-inactivated bacteria were used as coating antigens. Bound antibodies were detected with peroxidase-conjugated rabbit anti-pigeon serum and OPD and H2O2 as chromogen and substrate, respectively. ELISA was used to determine the prevalence of antibodies to S. bovis serotype 1 in healthy Belgian racing pigeons. Antibodies were demonstrated in 83 (= 37%) of 225 samples tested. Results indicate that pigeons may build up plasma antibodies in the absence of clinical signs resembling septicaemia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Veterinary Bacteriology & Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Herdt
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Haesebrouck
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Devriese
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ducatelle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001530:Belgium / Q000453:epidemiology; D001715:Bird Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010856:Columbidae; D015995:Prevalence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016985:Streptococcus bovis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial