ABSTRACT
Four horses were inoculated with Ehrlichia risticii contained in either infected murine P388 D1 cells or heparinized blood from an infected horse. All 4 horses produced serum antibody, plasma antigen, and clinical signs of the disease. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect antibody in the serum and was also used in conjunction with an anti-E. risticii monoclonal antibody to detect antigenemia. These laboratory and clinical findings were correlated to determine the efficiency of the antigen detection method for discerning E. risticii infection.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antigens, Viral/blood , Ehrlichiosis/diagnosis , Horse Diseases , Animals , Antibodies, Monoclonal , Ehrlichia/growth & development , Ehrlichiosis/blood , Ehrlichiosis/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Horses , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin M/blood , Mice , Tumor Cells, CulturedABSTRACT
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect antigen in plasma and antibody in serum of 3 horses inoculated with Ehrlichia equi. Clinical signs, including rectal temperature, were correlated with the antigen and antibody detection. ELISA was very efficient in detection of serum antibody. Antigen detection using monoclonal antibodies to E. equi and ELISA should be considered as a diagnostic method.
