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Objective: To compare the ELISA test with digestion
method for dignosis sarcocystosis in water buffalo and
estimate its sensitivity and specificity.
Design: Cross sectional study.
Animals: Three hundred slaughtered water buffaloes in
Ahwaz abattoir.
Procedure: Blood and oesophageal muscles were examined. Oesophageal muscles were examined for
sarcocystis by both macroscopic and microscopic
(digestion method) examination.Then the ELISA test were designed and compared with digestion method. Finally its sensitivity and specificity were determined.
Statistical analysis: Sensitivity , specificity and 95%
confidence intervals were determined by comparing the
results obtained by the ELISA assay and digestion method.
Mc nemar test were used for comparing the percentage of
positive cases and their correlation.
Results: While specific anti-sarcocytis antibodies were detected in 54.3% of cases macroscpic and microscopic
infection were 20% and 57%, respectively. Furthermore,
while the positive results of the macroscopic examination
significantly differed from those values of the digestion
and ELI[SA methods(P<0.01), no differences were
observed between the positive results of the microscopic
infection (digestion method) and the ELISA test (P>0.05).
Conclusion: ELISA test providing an effective and reliable means for detecting sarcocystosis in naturally infected
water buffaloes. Its simplicity and ease of performance
makes it particulary suitable for using in large-scale epidemiological surveys of livestock. J.Fac. Vet.Med.
Univ. Tehran. 60,3:273-276,2005.