Detection of antibodies in trypanosome-infected cattle by means of a microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A micromodification of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was evaluated for its potential application in the immunodiagonsis of bovine trypanosomiasis. Serum samples from infected and non-infected Zebu cattle and samples from Friesian cattle with experimental infections were exmained for the presence of trypanosomal antibodies. There were significant differences between the microELISA values obtained with samples from infected and non-infected cattle. During the course of infection microELISA values were found to fluctuate and the antibody response varied in individual animals. The test did not distinguish between infections with Trypanosoma brucei, T. vivax and T. congolense. There were no cross-reactions between trypanosome antigens and serum samples from cattle infected with T. theileri, Theileria parva, Th. mutans, Th. annulata, Babesia divergens and Anaplasma marginale.