Application of recombinant fimbrial protein for the specific detection of Salmonella enteritidis infection in poultry

A number of disease outbreaks of Salmonella enterica serotype enteritidis ( SE) in humans have been traced to the consumption of SE-contaminated egg an d egg products. A rapid, specific, and inexpensive method of detecting SE i nfection in poultry is necessary to reduce human outbreaks. We evaluated rS EF14 fimbrial antigen of SE for specific detection of SE-infected birds in Inter agglutination lest and enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay. rSEF14 anti gen wa highly specific in identifying birds infected with SE. The sera from birds infected with closely related serogroup-D Salmonella and other avian pathogens did not react with rSEF14 antigen. The rSEF14 antigen identified antibodies in serum of 88% of birds during the first 2 weeks of infection, and 100% of the birds subsequently. The SE-specific antibodies were detect ed in egg yolk ns early! ns 6 days post-infection in rSEF14-enzyme-linked-i mmunosorbent assay. assay. Our results suggest that rSEF14-based assays cou ld be used as screening tests for detection of SE antibodies and would over come the cross reactions observed with existing serological tests. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.