Comparison of cellular schizont, soluble schizont and soluble piroplasm antigens in ELISA for detecting antibodies against Theileria annulata

The efficacy and suitability of cellular schizont, soluble schizont and sol uble piroplasm antigens was compared for detecting antibodies against Theil eria annulata. Fifty bovine sera of known identity were evaluated in ELISA using the above mentioned antigens. Antibody titres of 1 : 100 to 1 : 51 20 0 were detected while using soluble piroplasm and cellular schizont antigen in ELISA. The titres ranged between 1 : 100 to 1 : 25 600 with the soluble schizont antigen. Soluble piroplasm antigen exhibited the highest antibody titres followed by cellular schizont and soluble schizont antigens. Cellul ar schizont antigen proved to be better than soluble schizont antigen for d etecting anti-schizontal antibodies. Antibody titres obtained by the three antigens exhibited a good linear correlation amongst each other. The study showed that soluble piroplasm and cellular schizont antigens can be used su ccessfully for detecting antibodies against piroplasm and schizont stages o f T. annulata, respectively in bovine sera. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.