title: Assessment of the First Commercial ELISA Kit for the Diagnosis of Theileria annulata.
abstract: The present study assesses the efficacy of SVANOVIR Theileria annulata-Ab, the first commercial ELISA kit for the diagnosis of Theileria annulata infection in cattle based on a recombinant protein known as T. annulata surface protein (TaSp). As a reference test, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay depending on T. annulata merozoite surface antigen (Tams-1) was applied. A total of 468 blood samples as well as serum samples were randomly collected from cattle and tested in the PCR as well as in the ELISA developed in this study. Moreover, all samples were also analyzed by conventional Giemsa-stained blood smear. The results of this study revealed a good correlation between the results obtained by PCR and the ELISA, whereas all PCR positive samples scored correctly positive in the ELISA and 73 of the 125 PCR negative samples scored correctly negative. Taken together, a sensitivity of 91.25% and a specificity of 78.4% were recorded, when compared to the PCR data. In conclusion, the SVANOVIR Theileria annulata-Ab is a suitable diagnostic assay for use in the diagnosis and epidemiological surveys of Theileria annulata infection in chronic and carrier animals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt.
authors.forename: Amira A T
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Al-Hosary
authors.affiliation: Institute of Parasitology and Tropical Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Free University of Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Jabbar
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Svanova, Uppsala Business Park, P.O. Box 1545, 75145 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nordengrahn
authors.affiliation: Boehringer Ingelheim Svanova, Uppsala Business Park, P.O. Box 1545, 75145 Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Malik
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merza