SEROLOGIC DIAGNOSIS OF CANINE AND EQUINE BORRELIOSIS - USE OF RECOMBINANT ANTIGENS IN ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAYS

Serum samples from dogs and equids suspected of having canine or equin e borreliosis, respectively, were analyzed in polyvalent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with whole-cell or recombinant antigens of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto, Purified preparations of recom binant antigens included outer surface protein A (OspA), OspB, OspC, O spE, OspF, and p41-G (a fragment of flagellin), Of the 36 dog sera tha t reacted positively to whole-cell antigen, 32 (88.9%) contained antib odies to one or more recombinant antigens. Reactivities to OspF (88.9% positive) and p41-G (75% positive) were most prevalent. In analyses o f 30 equid sera positive in an ELISA with whole cells, 24 (80%) contai ned antibodies to one or more recombinant antigens. Seropositivities i n ELISAs with p41-G (50% positive) and OspF (46.7% positive) were more than twofold greater than in ELISAs with OspA, OspB, or OspC (10 to 2 0% positive), In parallel tests of eight canine and three equine sera, there was good agreement in results of Western blot (immunoblot) anal yses and ELISAs. Although dog and equid sera with antibodies to whole- cell B, burgdorferi frequently reacted positively to one or more recom binant antigens, the inclusion of OspF and p41-G antigens in ELISAs wa s most useful in the serologic diagnosis of canine and equine borrelio sis.