Diagnosis by ELISA of bovine abortion due to <i>Campylobacter fetus</i>

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect antigen-specific secretory IgA antibody in bovine vaginal mucus after abortion due to Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis. Abortions were diagnosed by isolating the organism from 8 foetuses and/or foetal membranes and by histopathology. Vaginal mucus was collected from 7 cows shortly after abortion. All showed a high level of IgA antibody in their vaginal mucus when they were compared with an uninfected control group. The new ELISA is simple and practical and provides a useful tool for diagnosis of bovine venereal campylobacteriosis.