Surveillance investigations of brucellosis-, leukosis- and BHV-free cattle herds. ELISA-based bulk milk studies compared to single animal sample studies with traditional test systems. Safety and cost
Forschner, E.; Bunger, I.; Krause, H.P.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 95(5): 214-218
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 2840257 Document Number: 313492
By combining the rennet-ammonium sulfate concentration method and the ELISA technique it is possible to test milk pools from up to 50 cows against brucellosis, leukosis (EBL) and BHV1. Herds were divided into "negatives" and "to retest by single samples" .The results are compared with those of single sample testings of the same herds. Differences between herd status by pool milk investigation and by single blood or milk sample testing could not be observed with EBL and BHV1. With brucellosis, milk pool investigation using ELISA was more sensitive than ring test of single milk samples for low concentrations of antibodies. Efficiency and economics of the ELISA are discussed.