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THE USE OF A FORMOLISED ANTIGEN AS A SCREENING TEST FOR LEPTOSPIRAL ANTIBODIES IN HORSES
Author(s) -
Lepherd E. E.
Publication year - 1969
Publication title -
australian veterinary journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.382
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1751-0813
pISSN - 0005-0423
DOI - 10.1111/j.1751-0813.1969.tb13688.x
Subject(s) - antigen , direct agglutination test , serotype , antibody , horse , agglutination (biology) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , serology , virology , medicine , paleontology
Summary Six hundred and thirty‐two equine serums were examined for the presence of leptospiral antibodies. A positive reaction to one or more antigenic pools of a formolised leptospiral antigen (used in the rapid macroscopic slide agglutination test) was recorded in 41% of cases. One hundred samples were tested with 5 formolised antigen pools and 19 live antigens (by the microscopic agglutination test). Of 20 samples in which the live antigen test suggested leptospiral infection with serotypes known to occur in the region, 17 (85%) were confirmed with the formolised antigens. When the results of both tests were compared, there was agreement in 42 samples (30 positive and 12 negative). Forty‐one samples produced equivocal results and 17 gave doubtful reactions to the formolised antigens, 15 of which were negative to the live antigens. Dilution of the serums 1:1 with normal saline or heat inactivation had no effect in increasing the specificity between the formolised and live antigens. Agreement between operators in the use of the formolised antigen was poor. It is concluded that the formolised antigen has too wide a divergence to be of use for screening horse serums.