Serodiagnosis of sarcocystosis in water buffalo [Bubalus bubalis] by ELISA test and its comparison with digestion method

ABSTRACT

To compare the ELISA test with digestion method for dignosis sarcocystosis in water buffalo and estimate its sensitivity and specificity. Cross sectional study.Three hundred slaughtered water buffaloes in Ahwaz abattoir.Blood and oesophageal muscles were examined. Oesophageal muscles were examined for sarcocystis by both macroscopic and microscopic [digestion method] examination.Then the ELISA test were designed and compared with digestion method.Finally its sensitivity and specificity were determined. Sensitivity, specificity and 95% confidence intervals were determined by comparing the results obtained by the ELISA assay and digestion method. Me nemar test were used for comparing the percentage of positive cases and their correlation. While specific anti-sarcocytis antibodies were detected in 54.3% of cases macroscpic and microscopic infection were 20% and 57%, respectively. Furthermore, while the positive results of the macroscopic examination significantly differed from those values of the digestion and ELISA methods [P<0.01], no differences were observed between the positive results of the microscopic infection [digestion method] and the ELISA test [P>0.05]. Conclusion: ELISA test providing an effective and reliable means for detecting sarcocystosis in naturally infected water buffaloes. Its simplicity and ease of performance makes it particulary suitable for using in large-scale epidemiological surveys of livestock