Detection by ELISA of the humoral immune response in rabbits naturally infected with Trichophyton mentagrophytes

An indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed and its diagnostic potential evaluated for rabbits infected by Trichophyton mentag rophytes. Within-run and between-run coefficient of variance varied from 2. 3 to 7.7% and from 5.9 to 8.5%, respectively, indicating satisfactory repro ducibility of the ELISA. There was no significant cross-reaction with antig ens of Microsporum canis, Malassezia pachydermatis and Aspergillus fumigatu s. The level of specific IgG to Trichophyton mentagrophytes was measured in sera of 25 11-week-old and 12 younger infected rabbits. There was no signi ficant difference in the IgG level between 12 5-week-old infected rabbits a nd controls (p = 0.38). The antibody response was higher in 12 7-week-old r abbits compared with controls (p = 0.001). The IgG level in 25 11-week-old rabbits differed from the controls very significantly (p < 0.0001). Increas ed specific IgG in 11-week-old rabbits exhibited 96% sensitivity and 94% sp ecificity. Predictive values of a positive and a negative test were 96 and 94%, respectively. Western immunoblotting associated three protein bands (2 1.5, 31, 44 kDa) with Trichophyton mentagrophytes infection. (C) 1999 Elsev ier Science B.V. All rights reserved.