AN IMPROVED ELISA FOR THE DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST BABESIA-BOVIS USING EITHER A NATIVE OR A RECOMBINANT BABESIA-BOVIS ANTIGEN

Two new enzyme-linked immunosorbent assayes (ELISA) for the diagnosis of Babesia bovis in cattle are described. The ELISA using a native antigen is more sensitive and less laborious than the assays described previously, because it does not require adsorption of sera with bovine erythrocytes. The second ELISA, using a recombinant B. bovis antigen expressed in Escherichia coli, was both sensitive and specific. It is suitable to replace the native antigen, thus avoiding large batch-to-batch variations in antigen preparations and the need to sacrifice experimental cattle. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.