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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Use of a Western blot technique for the serodiagnosis of gla...
BMC veterinary research2011; 7; 4; doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-7-4

Use of a Western blot technique for the serodiagnosis of glanders.

Abstract: The in vivo diagnosis of glanders relies on the highly sensitive complement fixation test (CFT). Frequently observed false positive results are troublesome for veterinary authorities and cause financial losses to animal owners. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop a test with high specificity. Hence, a Western blot assay making use of a partly purified lipopolysaccaride (LPS) containing antigen of three Burkholderia mallei strains was developed. The test was validated investigating a comprehensive set of positive and negative sera obtained from horses and mules from endemic and non endemic areas. Results: The developed Western blot assay showed a markedly higher diagnostic specificity when compared to the prescribed CFT and therefore can be used as a confirmatory test. However, the CFT remains the test of choice for routine testing of glanders due to its high sensitivity, its feasibility using standard laboratory equipment and its worldwide distribution in diagnostic laboratories. Conclusions: The CFT should be amended by the newly validated Western blot to increase the positive likelihood ratio of glanders serodiagnosis in non endemic areas or areas with low glanders prevalence. Its use for international trade of horses and mules should be implemented by the OIE.
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Publication Date: 2011-01-19 PubMed ID: 21247488PubMed Central: PMC3034690DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-7-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Validation Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study presents a research focused on improving the diagnosis of glanders in horses and mules. The research demonstrates a Western blot assay, a more specific test than the previously used complement fixation test (CFT), for diagnosing glanders.

Introduction

  • Glanders is an infectious disease affecting horses and mules, and its diagnosis has relied on the complement fixation test (CFT).
  • Issues with false positive results from CFT have troubled veterinary authorities and caused financial losses for animal owners.
  • There is a pressing need for a more specific test.
  • The study developed a Western blot assay using a partially purified lipopolysaccaride (LPS) antigen from three Burkholderia mallei strains.

Methodology and Results

  • The Western blot assay was validated by examining a broad set of positive and negative sera taken from horses and mules from both endemic and non-endemic areas.
  • Findings indicate that the Western blot assay has significantly higher diagnostic specificity compared to CFT.
  • However, despite the higher specificity of the Western blot assay, CFT remains the primary test for glanders due to its high sensitivity, convenience using standard laboratory equipment, and its established worldwide use in diagnostic laboratories.

Conclusions

  • The researchers propose the newly validated Western blot assay to complement the existing CFT to increase the positive likelihood ratio of glanders serodiagnosis in non-endemic areas or areas with low glanders prevalence.
  • They recommend the international use of the Western blot test in the trade of horses and mules, which is to be implemented by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Cite This Article

APA
Elschner MC, Scholz HC, Melzer F, Saqib M, Marten P, Rassbach A, Dietzsch M, Schmoock G, de Assis Santana VL, de Souza MM, Wernery R, Wernery U, Neubauer H. (2011). Use of a Western blot technique for the serodiagnosis of glanders. BMC Vet Res, 7, 4. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-7-4

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 7
Pages: 4

Researcher Affiliations

Elschner, Mandy C
  • Friedrich Loeffler Institute, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Naumburger Strasse 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany. mandy.elschner@fli.bund.de
Scholz, Holger C
    Melzer, Falk
      Saqib, Muhammad
        Marten, Peggy
          Rassbach, Astrid
            Dietzsch, Michael
              Schmoock, Gernot
                de Assis Santana, Vania L
                  de Souza, Marcilia M A
                    Wernery, Renate
                      Wernery, Ulrich
                        Neubauer, Heinrich

                          MeSH Terms

                          • Animals
                          • Antibodies, Bacterial / blood
                          • Blotting, Western / veterinary
                          • Burkholderia mallei / isolation & purification
                          • Glanders / diagnosis
                          • Glanders / microbiology
                          • Horses
                          • Lipopolysaccharides / chemistry

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