Use of monoclonal antibody in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibodies against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae.

A double-sandwich ELISA using monoclonal antibody (McAb) has been developed for the detection of swine antibodies against Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae. McAb recognizing a 46-kilodalton (kDa) component of M. hyopneumoniae was employed for coating polystyrene microplate wells. In a comparison, the double-sandwich ELISA and complement fixation (CF) test antibodies were detected at almost the same time by both methods; however, ELISA antibodies persisted for a longer period than those detected by the CF test. In naturally infected pigs, passively-acquired maternal antibodies were detected in piglets 1 to 2 months following birth. Antibodies produced by piglets were first detected at 3 to 4 months of age. The use of McAb improved sensitivity, specificity, and reproducibility of the ELISA for the diagnosis of mycoplasmal pneumonia of swine.