ENZYME LINKED IMMUNOSORBENT ASSAY (ELISA) FOR THE DETECTION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI K99 PILUS ANTIGEN IN FECES

A total of 176 fecal samples were collected from untreated diarrheic cow calves (1 day to 3 weeks old). Each sample was divided equally into three portions. The first portion was subjected to the traditional method and results obtained showed that E. coli K99 pilus antigen was isolated from 42 samples in an incidence of 23.86% . The second and third portions were used for Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (using locally prepared hyper immune serum) and Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) respectively and the results revealed that 46 and ‘Pathasure Bovine Enteritis” kit 49 samples were positive with an incidence of 26.14% and 27.84% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the traditional method and double antibody sandwich ELISA were 93.7 % , 97.7% and 85.7 % , 94.8% respectively in relation to the enzyme immunoassay (EIA)“Pathasure bovine enteritis kit” the comparative study between the three different methods of diagnosis is discussed.