Abstract

BARBOSA DA SILVA, Jenevaldo; HENRIQUE DA FONSECA, Adivaldo; DOS ANJOS BOMJARDIM, Henrique  and  DIOMEDES BARBOSA, José. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological detection of antibodies against Borrelia in calves in Brazil. Rev Salud Anim. [online]. 2016, vol.38, n.1, pp.9-13. ISSN 0253-570X.

Bacteria of the genus Borrelia are described as pathogenic agents of several human and animal diseases. An infection nowadays is usually detected via determination of circulating antibodies against Borrelia-specific antigens in body fluids. Thus, the aim of this study was to detect circulating antibodies against Borrelia sp. by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in cattle. Seven hundred twenty serum samples from 20 female bovines living in tick-infested areas were collected during three years. Statistical analyses were done by qui-square or Fischer's exact tests, with a confidence level of 95%. For homologous antibodies response to Borrelia sp., the iELISA test showed 93.33% sensitivity and 86.66% specificity. The prevalence of antibodies against Borrelia sp. were 15%, 23.8%, 48.6% and 65.8% at birth, first, second and third year, respectively. The rate of animal showing antibodies to Borrelia sp. indicated the presence of the tickborne spirochaetal agent in the cattle population in the studied region. Therefore, an ELISA could be used to confirm the exposure of cattle to Borrelia sp.

Keywords : cattle; diagnostics; serologic testing; spirochaetes.

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