Comparison of three serological tests and an interferon-gamma assay for the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in experimentally infected sheep.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the diagnostic performance of a complement fixation test, an agar gel immunodiffusion test, an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and a whole-blood interferon-gamma assay for paratuberculosis in 14 sheep experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis.


METHODS
Longitudinal study.


RESULTS
The IFN-gamma assay detected more experimentally infected sheep, and earlier, than any of the serological tests. None of the antibody assays was able to detect all sheep with histologically confirmed paratuberculosis.


CONCLUSIONS
The superior performance of the IFN-gamma assay in detecting infected sheep in this small experimental population warrants its further evaluation in a larger population of sheep naturally exposed to M a paratuberculosis.
Gwozdz
J M
JM
Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand. Jacek.Gwozdz@nre.vic.gov.au
Thompson
K G
KG
Murray
A
A
Reichel
M P
MP
Manktelow
B W
BW
West
D M
DM
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010283:Paratuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007371:Interferon-gamma