title: Development, validation, and utilization of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies against Brucella species in marine mammals.
abstract: A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) was developed by using a whole-cell antigen from a marine Brucella sp. isolated from a harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). The assay was designed to screen sera from multiple marine mammal species for the presence of antibodies against marine-origin Brucella. Based on comparisons with culture-confirmed cases, specificity and sensitivity for cetacean samples tested were 73% and 100%, respectively. For pinniped samples, specificity and sensitivity values were 77% and 67%, respectively. Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi; n  =  28) and bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus; n  =  48) serum samples were tested, and the results were compared with several other assays designed to detect Brucella abortus antibodies. The comparison testing revealed the marine-origin cELISA to be more sensitive than the B. abortus tests by the detection of additional positive serum samples. The newly developed cELISA is an effective serologic method for detection of the presence of antibodies against marine-origin Brucella sp. in marine mammals.
authors.affiliation: Aquatic Animal Health Department, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0136, USA. jennymeegan@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Meegan
authors.forename: Cara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Field
authors.forename: Inga
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sidor
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Casinghino
authors.forename: Cynthia R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Lizabeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kashinsky
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Fair
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bossart
authors.forename: Randall
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: J Lawrence
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dunn
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D050681:Bottle-Nosed Dolphin; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D046048:Seals, Earless
chemical_list: D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial