A COMPLEMENT-FIXATION, ENZYME-LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY AS AN AID IN THE SEROLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF ENZOOTIC ABORTION IN EWES

Abstract An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which detects complement fixed in an antigen/antibody complex ( CFELISA ) was used to examine sera previously examined by the complement fixation test ( CFT ) in an investigation of enzootic abortion in ewes ( EAE ). The CFELISA was easy to perform and did not suffer from the many drawbacks of the CFT . Accepting a CFT titre of ≥32 to indicate infection, the CFELISA had a sensitivity of 98 per cent and a specificity of 100 per cent; the predictive value of a positive result was 100 per cent and that of a negative result was 98 per cent.