Recombinant antigen-based dipstick ELISA for the diagnosis of leptospirosis in dogs.

A recombinant LipL 32 antigen-based dipstick ELISA was developed as a screening test for the detection of leptospiral antibodies in serum samples from dogs. The antibodies were detected by a change in the colour of the substrate solution when the recombinant antigen-coated dipsticks were dipped into it. The relative sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the test, compared with the standard microscopic agglutination test, were 95.9 per cent, 93.8 per cent and 94.8 per cent, respectively.