Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Sciences, CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar-125 004, INDIA.
Efficacy of slide agglutination test and standard tube agglutination test was compared for detecting agglutinins to Listeria ivanovii in a flock of sheep with a history of abortion due to Listeria ivanovii using whole cell heat killed and trypsinized antigen. The serum samples exhibiting a titre of 1:320 or above in standard tube agglutination test gave positive reaction in slide agglutination test as well but all those samples which had a titre of 1:80 or below in standard tube agglutination test were negative by slide agglutination test. However, serum samples with a titre of 1:160 in standard tube agglutination test produced variable reaction in slide agglutination test. Treatment of serum samples with 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) revealed that majority of the serum samples containing 2-ME resistant listeric antibodies were positive by slide agglutination test. It was observed that slide agglutination test was much simpler and rapid than standard tube agglutination test for screening of listeric agglutinins in sheep serum samples.
Agglutinins, Listeria ivanovii, Sheep
