Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovars hardjo and pomona in cattle.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which used the phenol phase of a hot phenol-water extraction as antigen, and the microscopic agglutination test were compared for the detection of antibodies to Leptospira interrogans serovars hardjo and pomona in cattle. Among serum samples from vaccinated cattle, the ELISA (using antiglobulin) was positive to 64% with hardjo antigen and to 78% with pomona antigen, whereas the microscopic agglutination test was positive to only 18% with hardjo and 23% with pomona. There were no ELISA reactions observed among known negative-control samples. The ELISA, using antiglobulin conjugate, was overall a more sensitive technique for the detection of leptospiral antibodies in cattle.