Enzyme Immunoassay Using Mouse Monoclonal Anti‐bovine Antibodies for the Detection ofBrucella abortusAntibodies in Cow Milk

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Summary: Individual milk samples and artificially constructed tank milk samples from cows with naturally occurring brucellosis were examined by the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sonicatedB. abortusS‐99 antigen, and mouse monoclonal anti‐bovine IgM, IgA, and IgG1conjugates. ELISA results were compared with the results of the milk ring test using either 1 ml milk (MRT‐1) or 8 ml milk (MRT‐8).The ELISA using mouse monoclonal anti‐bovine IgG1conjugate was sensitive and specific. In testing individual milk samples and constructed tank milk samples containing milk with low titers in the MRT‐1 the ELISA was superior to the MRT‐1, and MRT‐8. In testing other milk samples, the ELISA was as sensitive or slightly less sensitive than the MRT‐8. From a total of 5,910 milk samples collected from cows free from brucellosis, only 24 (0.4 %) samples tested positive in the ELISA. All 500 tank milk samples collected from farms negative for brucellosis tested negative in the ELISA.We concluded that the ELISA is a good substitute for the MRT‐1 to detect antibodies againstBrucellain milk from individual cows. When tank milk is tested for antibodies againstBrucella, however, both the MRT‐8 and the ELISA should be used.