Comparison of monoclonal antibody-based competitive and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the diagnosis of swine trichinosis.

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of swine trichinosis has been developed using a biotinylated monoclonal antibody and an avidin-enzyme conjugate. The assay is based on competitive binding between swine serum antibodies and a monoclonal antibody specific for an antigenic determinant present on proteins from Trichinella spiralis excretory-secretory products with molecular weights of 45,000, 49,000, and 53,000. The competitive ELISA reliably detected pigs infected experimentally with T. spiralis and eliminated false-positive reactions in pigs infected with other swine nematodes, particularly Trichurus suis. When the competitive ELISA and an indirect ELISA using affinity-isolated antigen were compared using serum from pigs with naturally-acquired infections of T. spiralis, both tests were highly effective in detecting infected animals.