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Article
Development of a bead-agglutination assay for rapid detection of Tritrichomonas foetus
Veterinary Parasitology
  • Robert G. Schaut, United States Department of Agriculture
  • Lynette B. Corbeil, University of California, San Diego
  • Courtney N. Blake, Anita Veterinary Clinic
  • Matthew T. Brewer, Iowa State University
Document Type
Article
Publication Version
Published Version
Publication Date
8-30-2017
DOI
10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.06.025
Abstract

Tritrichomonas foetus is a flagellated protozoan parasite that causes inflammation of the reproductive tract leading to early embryonic death and abortion in cattle, thereby resulting in significant economic losses. Testing and culling infected bulls is an important strategy for parasite control. Routine testing is mainly limited to bulls that are traveling across state lines or within states that have specific control programs. Both culture and PCR detection methods are available, but they are not typically conducted as part of a yearly breeding soundness program and are not easily conducted in the field. In the present study, we developed a bead agglutination assay for detection of T. foetus antigens. Our experiments revealed that latex beads conjugated to T. foetus lipophosphoglycan-binding antibodies visibly clump in the presence of T. foetus. The detection limit of the assay, determined using both field and laboratory isolates of the parasite, was 0.25 μg/mL and 1.0 μg/mL total T. foetus antigen, respectively. Our results indicate that an antigen detection test could offer a tool for screening bulls under field conditions.

Comments

This article is published as Schaut, Robert G., Lynette B. Corbeil, Courtney N. Blake, and Matthew T. Brewer. "Development of a bead-agglutination assay for rapid detection of Tritrichomonas foetus." Veterinary Parasitology 243 (2017): 188-191. DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2017.06.025.

Rights
Works produced by employees of the U.S. Government as part of their official duties are not copyrighted within the U.S. The content of this document is not copyrighted.
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
Citation Information
Robert G. Schaut, Lynette B. Corbeil, Courtney N. Blake and Matthew T. Brewer. "Development of a bead-agglutination assay for rapid detection of Tritrichomonas foetus" Veterinary Parasitology Vol. 243 (2017) p. 188 - 191
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/matt-brewer/13/