COMPARISON OF CONVENTIONAL CULTURE METHODS AND 2 COMMERCIAL ENZYME IMMUNOASSAYS FOR DETECTION OF SALMONELLA IN PORCINE FECAL SAMPLES AND CECAL CONTENTS

Two commercial enzyme immunoassays, designated EIA-1 and EIA-2, for th e detection of salmonella in feces and cecal contents were compared to conventional culture methods. Out of 362 cecal content samples, 35 we re positive by EIA-1 and 30 were positive by EIA-2 and conventional me thods. Out of 189 fecal samples, 41 were positive by EIA-1, 30 were po sitive by EIA-2, and 24 were positive by conventional culture methods. The EIA-1 assay method detected more positive samples overall, althou gh only comparison of the fecal samples was statistically significant. The results indicate that the EIA-1 method is rapid, requiring only 2 4 hours, and may he more sensitive than the EIA-2 assay and convention al culture techniques. Enzyme immunoassays for the detection elf salmo nella in fecal samples or cecal contents provide a reasonable alternat ive to conventional culture techniques.