Determination of diagnostic value of cELISA for the diagnosis of anaplasmosis in clinically suspected ruminants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine diagnostic value of cELISA in anaplasmosis in clinically suspected animals and to compare the cELISA results with the clinical examination results. For this purpose a total of 720 ruminants (457 cattle, 146 sheep, 117 goat) were examined in terms of clinical signs. Eighty-eight ruminants consisting of 61 cattle, 11 sheep and 16 goat which had the symptoms of anemia, fever, icterus, weakness, depression and lack of appetite were selected for the study. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein of all clinically suspected animals and serum samples were separated. A commercially available competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (C-ELISA) kit was used for determine antibodies to Anaplasma species. cELISA based diagnosis revealed that 47 of 88 serum samples (53.4%) were positive for anaplasmosis. In serological examination Anaplasma specific antibodies were determined in 45.9% of cattle, 63.6% of sheep and 56.2% of goats. Seropositivity rate was statistically differ among the age groups of cattle and the highest seropositvity rate was found in <12 month age (P < 0.005). However no difference was found in the seropositivity rate of Anaplasma in sheep and goat in relation to age group. From the data obtained in this study it can be concluded that clinical findings are not sufficient criteria for the diagnosis of anaplasmosis and must be supported by serological examination.