ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY FOR THE DETECTION OF CRYPTOSPORIDIUM-PARVUM IGG IN THE SERUM OF CATS

The objective was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELI SA) for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum IgG in the serum of ca ts. The ELISA was an indirect ELISA using soluble C. parvum oocyst ant igens and a peroxidase-labeled anti-feline IgG secondary antibody. Ser a from cats with Toxocara felis, Giardia spp., Aelurostrongylus abstru sus, Isopora felis, Isopora rivolta, Toxoplasma gondii, or Taenia spp. infections were assayed in specificity studies. Following optimizatio n, the ELISA and fecal examination for oocysts were performed on sampl es from 170 client-owned or humane society source cats and 1 cat inocu lated orally with C. parvum oocysts. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts we re detected in feces (4/170; 2.4%), and C. parvum IgG was detected in serum (26/170; 15.3%) from naturally exposed cats. The seroprevalence data suggest that some cats in the geographical area studied were expo sed but persistent oocyst shedding was less common. The ELISA is nor u seful for predicting oocyst shedding in individual cats.