IMMUNO-DOT BLOT AS A RAPID DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR DETECTION OF CHLAMYDIAL INFECTION IN KOALAS (PHASOLARCTOS-CINEREUS)

The sensitivity and specificity of an immunoscreening test for anti-ch lamydial antibodies in koala (Phasolarctos cinereus) serum were determ ined after the adsorption of non-specific antibodies. The results of t he test were compared with complement fixation tests, tissue culture, gene probe analysis and dot blot immunoscreening for host-borne chlamy dial antigen. The immunoscreening test was the most sensitive test for the identification of chlamydial infection in koala serum samples, fu rthermore it was rapid, taking approximately 16 hours to complete, and inexpensive. However, for the assay of swab material from koalas, gen e probe analysis remains the most sensitive method of detection of chl amydiae.