Abstract
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA)was developed to detect antibodies in roosters against the northern fowl mite(NFM), Ornithonyssus sylviarum. NFM extracted with0.15M sodium chloride solution was used as the antigen without detergent treatment. One percent bovine serum albumin and 1% hemoglobin were used for dilution of test sera and rabbit antichicken IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase to eliminate false positive reaction. During experimental infestation of the roosters, there was significant antibody production by ELISA and the agar-gel precipitation test(AGP)at almost the same time in all roosters. Antibodies against NFM were found by much smaller amounts of antigens and for longer periods following elimination of NFM using ELISA than by the AGP.
