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Title: ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAYS FOR THE DETECTION OF EQUINE ANTIBODIES SPECIFIC TO SARCOCYSTIS NEURONA SURFACE ANTIGENS

Author
item HOANE, JESSICA - U KENTUCKY LEXINGTON KY
item MORROW, JENNIFER - LEXINGTON KY
item SAVILLE, WILLIAM - OHIO STATE U COLUMBUS
item Dubey, Jitender
item Granstrom, David
item HOWE, DANIEL - U KENTUCKY LEXINGTON KY

Submitted to: Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/11/2005
Publication Date: 11/10/2005
Citation: Hoane, J.S., Morrow, J.K., Saville, W.J., Dubey, J.P., Granstrom, D.E., Howe, D.K. 2005. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of equine antibodies specific to sarcocystis neurona surface antigens. Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology. 12:1050-1056.

Interpretive Summary: Sarcocystis neurona is a single-celled parasite that causes a total neurologic disease (EPM) in the horse and other animals. The diagnosis of EPM during the life of the animal is a problem. Scientists at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center and University of Kentucky report a new diagnostic test (ELISA) for EPM. The results will be of interest to biologists, parasitologists and veterinarians.

Technical Abstract: Sarcocystis neurona is the primary causative agent of equine protozoal myeleoencephalitis (EPM), a common neurologic disease of horses in Americas. We have developed a set of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) based on the four major surface antigens of S. neurona (SnSAGs) to analyze the equine antibody response to S. neurona. The SnSAG ELISAs were validated with a sample set of 37 equine sera that had been characterized by western blot against total S. nmeurona parasite antigen, the current gold standard for S. neorona serology. The rSnSAG2 ELISA showed the highest sensitivity at 95.5%. In contrast, only 45.5% sensitivity was achieved with the rSaSAG1 ELISA, indicating that this antigen may not be a reliable serological marker for detecting S. neurona infection in horses. Importantly, the ELISAs did not show cross-reactivity with antisera to Sarcocystis fayeri or Neospora hughesi, two other equine coccidian parasites. The SnSAG ELISAs will be valuable tools for elucidating the equine immune response against S. neurona infection, which may help in understanding the pathobiology of this accidental parasite/host interaction. Additionally, the ELISAs have potential for use as immunodiagnostic tests to aid in the identification of horses affected by EPM.