Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for measurement of anti-Moraxella bovis antibodies.

: Antibodies of the immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA classes specific for Moraxella bovis in serum or lacrimal secretions of cattle were detected with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, using soluble extracts of M bovis or whole organisms. The amount of detectable antibodies was influenced by the type of antigenic preparation used in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The test indicated that 2 subcutaneous inoculations of M bovis cells induce significantly (P less than 0.0001) increased anti-M bovis serum antibodies. The infection of calves with M bovis induced specific IgG antibodies in serum and predominantly IgA antibodies in lacrimal secretions.