Detection of antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins in the serum and milk of healthy goats.

A study was made of the presence of antibodies (Ab) to staphylococcal enterotoxins A to E (SEA-SEE) in the serum and milk of 133 healthy goats, using a competitive ELISA method. Antibodies to some enterotoxins were detected in 83 sera (62.4%) and in 41 (30.8%) milk samples. In serum, antibodies to all SE types were detected, the most frequent being antibodies to SEA (24.8%). Milk contained antibodies to SEA, SEB and SEC, the latter being the most frequent (24.8%). A statistical study was performed to correlate the number of animals harbouring antibodies to a given enterotoxin with the presence in these animals of staphylococci producing that enterotoxin.