Development of indirect ELISA for the diagnosis of bovine hypodermosis (Hypoderma lineatum) in the cattle of subtropical region of Pakistan.

Summary The aim of this study was to develop an indirect ELISA for the detection of Hypoderma lineatum antibodies and to determine the influence of seroepidemiological factors on the seroprevalence of bovine hypodermosis in cattle of subtropical region of Pakistan. For this purpose a total of 1000 blood samples were taken from twenty eight villages of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal and Jhelum districts. First instar larvae (L1) of the warble fly were collected from the surrounding abattoirs to obtain the antigen (HyC) used for development of indirect ELISA. The seroprevalence was 17.4% (174/1000). The highest seroprevalence was recorded in the Rawalpindi district (28.81%), followed by Attock (21.51%), Jhelum (10%) and Chakwal (6.66%). In present study the sensitivity and specificity was 97.28% and 96.44%, respectively. The epidemiological factors showed that the village having hilly locations, local breed, young animals, water bodies, extensive grazing, primary exposed and non medicated were more seropositive as compare to others (P<0.05). In conclusion, indirect ELISA developed during this study is very useful tool for early detection of bovine hypodermosis in cattle grazing in subtropical region of Pakistan.