title: Detection and quantification of Ornithodoros-specific anti-tick antibody by competitive inhibition ELISA.
abstract: The objective of this study was to develop a highly specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serological detection of anti-Ornithodoros tick antibodies in animals. Affinity-purified rabbit anti-Ornithodoros IgG antibodies were employed in indirect competitive inhibition ELISA assays designed to measure the anti-Ornithodoros antibody titers in other animal species using the domestic goat (Capra hircus) as a large animal model. Repeated infestation of goats with Ornithodoros coriaceus was found to elicit the formation of antibodies capable of inhibiting the binding of the Ornithodoros-specific rabbit IgG. Western blot analysis of goat and rabbit anti-tick antisera demonstrated both animal species to respond immunologically to a set of 9 major protein bands in O. coriaceus salivary gland extracts. The results of these experiments demonstrate that a history of animal exposure to O. coriaceus may be detected serologically by competitive inhibition ELISA.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Gainesville 32611-0620, USA.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Endris
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Zam
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002846:Chromatography, Affinity; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006041:Goats; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011817:Rabbits; D013987:Ticks / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D007106:Immune Sera; D007074:Immunoglobulin G