DETECTION AND QUANTIFICATION OF ORNITHODOROS-SPECIFIC ANTITICK ANTIBODY BY COMPETITIVE-INHIBITION ELISA

The objective of this study was to develop a highly specific enzyme-li nked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the serological detection of anti -Ornithodoros tick antibodies in animals. Affinity-purified rabbit ant i-Ornithodoros IgG antibodies were employed in indirect competitive in hibition ELISA assays designed to measure the anti-Ornithodoros antibo dy titers in other animal species using the domestic goat (Capm hircus ) as a large animal model. Repeated infestation of goats with Ornithod oros coriaceus was found to elicit the formation of antibodies capable of inhibiting the binding of the Ornithodoros-specific rabbit Igc. We stern blot analysis of goat and rabbit anti-tick antisera demonstrated both animal species to respond immunologically to a set of 9 major pr otein bands in O. coriaceus salivary gland extracts. The results of th ese experiments demonstrate that a history of animal exposure to O. co riaceus may be detected serologically by competitive inhibition ELISA.