Detection of Mycoplasma equigenitalium from Equines by Capture- ELISA

Mycoplasmas are smallest self-replicating prokaryotes and responsible for varied genital and respiratory disease conditions in animals as well as human beings. They assume greater importance due to their resistance for com- mon antibiotics and ability to survive the temperature of cryopreservation during artificial insemination. Mycoplasma equigenitalium has been implicated in reproductive and genital problems of mares and stallions. The conventional cul- tural methods are quite cumbersome and time consuming. In this study detection rate by capture-ELISA (9.6%) was higher than cultural methods (4.8%) for diseased equines. Overall detection rate by capture-ELISA (3.6%) was also higher than cultural methods (1.8%). Therefore capture-ELISA becomes a simple, rapid and sensitive alternative tool for detection of M. equigenitalium.