Evaluation of new ‘indigenous milk dot-ELISA’ as ‘Field Test’ <i>vis-à-vis</i> milk plate-ELISA for the detection of <i>Mycobacterium avium</i> sub species <i>paratuberculosis</i> infection in lactating domestic livestock

Abstract

<i>Mycobacterium avium</i> subspecies <i>paratuberculosis</i> (MAP), the cause of incurable Johne’s disease (JD), is endemic in both domestic livestock and human population of the country. It is the major cause of low per animal productivity and reduced productive life in domestic livestock, wherein buffaloes, goats and sheep go for early slaughter for harvesting meat and cows are left to roam on the roads of cities and towns. In the present study, milk dot-ELISA test was standardized in efforts to develop a ‘field test’ for the detection of MAP infection in lactating animals using milk samples. Results of newly developed ‘milk dot-ELISA’ were compared with well standardized ‘indigenous milk plate-ELISA kit’, with known sensitivity and specificity. Of the 276 milk samples screened, 43 (32.0%) and 51 (35.9%) were positive in plate-ELISA and dot-ELISA (True Positives), for bovine and caprine paratuberculosis, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity of dot-ELISA <i>vis-à-vis</i> plate-ELISA was 86.2 and 73.8%, respectively. Newly standardized dot-ELISA was found to be highly sensitive, cost effective, quick, repeatable and efficient ‘field test’ for the screening of milk samples of lactating cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats against MAP infection.