An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the convenient serodiagnosis of contagious equine metritis in mares

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the serodiag nosis of contagious equine metritis (CEM), a sexually transmitted disease c aused by Taylorella equigenitalis. Antigen preparation was simple, and anti gens derived from both classical and atypical forms of T. equigenitalis ena bled detection of antibody responses elicted in horses experimentally expos ed to either form of the bacterium. Sera serially obtained from these horse s from 0 to 63 days postexposure were tested by the traditional complement fixation test (CFT) for CEM and with the ELISA, using both antigens separat ely. There was close agreement between CFT and ELISA methodologies during t he postexposure time period used to detect CEM serodiagnostically in regula tory animal health testing programs. Unlike the CFT, which requires an over night incubation step, the ELISAs are more convenient and can be completed in 3 hours.