title: A Bayesian evaluation of four immunological assays for the diagnosis of clinical cryptosporidiosis in calves.
abstract: A Bayesian approach was used to evaluate four immunological assays for the clinical diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis in calves: an immunofluorescence assay (IFA), two ELISA tests and an immunochromatographic (dipstick) assay. Faecal samples from 287 calves aged less than 6 weeks with clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease were examined for the presence of Cryptosporidium spp. The high prevalence (63%) of Cryptosporidium spp. indicated the relevance of this agent in the aetiology of diarrhoea in calves. All diagnostic assays were found to be relatively specific (IFA: 94.8%; Tetra ELISA: 95.9%; Techlab ELISA: 92.7%; dipstick assay: 91.5%) and sensitive (IFA: 97.4%; Tetra ELISA: 93.6%; Techlab ELISA: 95.4%; dipstick: 87.8%). Despite a lower sensitivity, the dipstick assay provided a practical alternative to laboratory diagnosis of clinical cryptosporidiosis in calves.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke, Belgium. thomas.guerden@ugent.be
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Geurden
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Claerebout
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vercruysse
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berkvens
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001499:Bayes Theorem; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D005260:Female; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence