Evaluation of efficacy of the species specific antigens in the diagnosis of ovine and caprine Paratuberculosis using plate ELISA Kumar V1, Bhatia A K1, Singh S V2 1Division of Microbiology and Immunology, Veterinary College U P Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Veterinary University and Gou Anusandahan Sansthan, Mathura; 2Goat Health Division, Central Institute for Research on Goats, Makhdoom, PO Farah, Mathura 281 122 (UP), INDIA Abstract The present study was aimed to determine the efficacy of three Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) antigens prepared from endemic strains of Map from Ovine, Caprine and Bovine using plate Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in the diagnosis of paratuberculosis in sheep and goats and to evaluate the merit of each antigen. Serum samples from 105 sheep belonging to three different flocks and 46 goats from two herds with varying health status and history of paratuberculosis were subjected to plate ELISA (standardized using Checker Board analysis) using all the three antigens one by one. After comparison of the detailed results of ELISAs it was clearly found that antigens prepared from specific native Map isolate of sheep or goat detected fairly large number of positive cases with Map antibody in sheep or goats, respectively. Thus, the study indicated greater sensitivity of species specific antigens and that comparatively much lower concentration of protein in antigen was required in detecting Map antibodies. Moreover, use of other species antigens results more false positive, thereby decreasing specificity. Top Key words Species-specific antigen, ELISA, diagnosis, Map, paratuberculosis, goat, sheep. Top |