Enzyme-linked immunoassay in the diagnosis of leptospirosis in domestic animals using peroxidase-conjugated protein-A.

The ELISA test for detection of antibodies to Leptospirosis in domestic animals was performed using Staphylococcal protein-A coupled to peroxidase in place of antisera to IgG. Genus- and type-specific antigens were extracted with SDS technique from four pathogenic serotypes and two non-pathogenic ones, and they were identified with the aid of ELISA using specific rabbit antisera. Micro-agglutination (MA) and ELISA were compared using a total of 48 positive swine sera and a 100% agreement was obtained, since with sera from 16 dogs clinically suspected of Leptospirosis the ELISA resulted highly more sensitive and precocious than MA in detecting specific antibodies.