Screening rabbit colonies for antibodies to Pasteurella multocida by an ELISA
Zaoutis, T.E.; Reinhard, G.R.; Cioffe, C.J.; Moore, P.B.; Stark, D.M.
Laboratory Animal Science 41(5): 419-422
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-6764 PMID: 1666140 Document Number: 375002
Rabbit serum samples from eleven different research facilities were evaluated for the presence of immunoglobulin G against Pasteurella multocida by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Each facility which submitted serum samples also provided a brief history of each rabbit colony tested. Rabbits from colonies reported to have endemic P. multocida or of undetermined status had 83 (58.9%) of 141 rabbits that were positive. Colonies reported to be free from P. multocida had 110 (92.4%) of 119 rabbits that were negative by ELISA. The ELISA test described here showed a high degree of agreement (92-94%) with two other P. multocida ELISAs at different diagnostic facilities. This study confirms that an ELISA testing for serum antibodies against the P. multocida is a reliable diagnostic tool to screen colonies for P. multocida.