ABSTRACT
The approbation of the enzyme immunoassay in the study of diverse field material (corpses of animals, ectoparasites, soil, feces of birds of prey, etc.) for the presence of Yersinia pestis contamination has shown the advantages of this assay over the existing serological tests: the passive hemagglutination test and the antigen (or antibody) neutralization test. The use of the immunoperoxidase preparation obtained on the basis of staphylococcal protein A makes it possible to detect antibodies to Y. pestis in animals of various species known to be the main carriers, as well as less important ones, in the natural foci of plague in Siberia. The enzyme immunoassay is recommended for use in the study of not only active natural foci, but also territories, dangerous with respect to plague, as well as for controlling the state of such territories after the realization of relevant sanitation measures.
