Application of an enzyme immunoassay for detecting antibodies in sera of Macaca fascicularis naturally exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

An enzyme immunoassay (EIA) was developed for detecting mycobacterial antibodies in the sera of 22 Macaca fascicularis following a natural outbreak of tuberculosis. EIAs were conducted using four antigens (lysozyme, triton, or deoxycholate extracts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis or a purified protein derivative) and two conjugates (protein A or antihuman). Mycobacterial antibodies were detected in two of two culture-positive monkeys, in nine of ten tuberculin test-suspect monkeys (culture-negative), and in five of ten tuberculin test-negative monkeys (culture-negative). Results indicate EIA may be of practical value in detecting monkeys exposed to M. tuberculosis.