title: Detection by ELISA of the humoral immune response in rabbits naturally infected with Trichophyton mentagrophytes.
abstract: An indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and its diagnostic potential evaluated for rabbits infected by Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Within-run and between-run coefficient of variance varied from 2.3 to 7.7% and from 5.9 to 8.5%, respectively, indicating satisfactory reproducibility of the ELISA. There was no significant cross-reaction with antigens of Microsporum canis, Malassezia pachydermatis and Aspergillus fumigatus. The level of specific IgG to Trichophyton mentagrophytes was measured in sera of 25 11-week-old and 12 younger infected rabbits. There was no significant difference in the IgG level between 12 5-week-old infected rabbits and controls (p = 0.38). The antibody response was higher in 12 7-week-old rabbits compared with controls (p = 0.001). The IgG level in 25 11-week-old rabbits differed from the controls very significantly (p < 0.0001). Increased specific IgG in 11-week-old rabbits exhibited 96% sensitivity and 94% specificity. Predictive values of a positive and a negative test were 96 and 94%, respectively. Western immunoblotting associated three protein bands (21.5, 31, 44 kDa) with Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. zrimsepe@mail.vf.uni-lj.si
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zrimsek
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kos
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pinter
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drobnic-Kosorok
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000908:Antibodies, Fungal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D011817:Rabbits; D014005:Tinea / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000908:Antibodies, Fungal