Evaluation of Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pulmonis Infection in Rats

Abstract

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was applied to diagnose Mycoplasma pulmonis (Mp) infection in rats. The assay was more sensitive than complement fixation test and had about the same sensitivity as isolation of Mp from the respiratory tract except very early stage (1 week) of the infection. Since Mp shared cross-reactive antigen with M. arthritidis (Ma), parallel use of both Mp and Ma antigens was recommended for diagnosis of Mp infection when sonicated antigens were used.