Comparison of capture-ELISA with cultural isolation for detection of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC type, M-30) in experimentally infected lambs

A capture-ELISA was standardized in order to avoid the time consuming and comparatively less sensitive cultural reisolation for detection of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides (LC, M-30) [MmmLC] in the tissues of experimentally infected lambs and compared with results of reisolation of MmmLC. The organism could be recovered from 65.55% of the specimens examined for cultural reisolation. Capture-ELISA detected MmmLC antigens in 73.33% of the examined tissues. Comparison of results of both the techniques revealed a 90% agreement and 10% disagreement. It was concluded from the present studies that capture-ELISA is a more sensitive technique than reisolation of organism for detection of MmmLC in the tissues of the animals.