Serological response to chlamydial infection in sheep, studied by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting.

Two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using highly purified elementary bodies (EB) of Chlamydia psittaci A/22 strain (ovine) or 6BC strain (psittacine) were set up for the detection of antichlamydial antibodies in sheep. No significant differences were observed between the two ELISAs, whereas these tests proved to be more sensitive than complement fixation test and showed a good correlation (r = 0.75) with immunofluorescence assay. The periodate treatment of chlamydial antigens modified the results of serological responses studied by ELISA, depending on the sera. The average reduction of ELISA values by periodate was 28%, ranging between 5% and 65%. The immunoblot analysis of sheep sera showed high cross reactivity between the polypeptides of A/22 and 6BC strains. However, some differences were observed. The major outer membrane protein (MOMP) of 6BC strain was recognized at different molecular weight position (40,000 kDa) in comparison with the MOMP of A/22 strain (38,000 kDa). In addition, a clear band of 97,000 kDa was detected by all sheep sera tested with A/22 strain. This band was undetectable in the blots performed with 6BC strain.