Early detection of cattle grub (Hypoderma lineatum and H.bovis) (Diptera, Oestridae) using ELISA

Abstract

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect cattle grub-infested animals in the autumn in Alberta has been developed. Antibody to Hypoderma lineatum de Vill. was detectable as early as 6 weeks post-infestation in artificially infested steers. Peak antibody concentrations preceded the peak in maximum 'apparent' grub numbers which occurred between 37 and 43 weeks after infestation. Natural infestations with H. lineatum and H. bovis L., ranging from one to ninety-two grubs per calf, were readily detected by November and the incidence of false positives in uninfested calves was only 5%. Low level (1-4 grubs) infestations of H. bovis only became detectable in February with peak antibody concentrations occurring at the end of April. Prevalence of cattle grub infestations in southern Alberta was shown to be 37% during this study.

Dynamics of the Antibody Response in Cattle Infested by <I>Hypoderma</I> (Diptera: Oestridae) After a Treatment with Injectable and Pour-on Ivermectin

“…The dynamics of antigen-speciÞc antibody in untreated cattle was similar to that demonstrated by other authors (Boulard 1985, Colwell and Baron 1990, Lonneux and Losson 1994. Antigen-speciÞc antibody levels increased until December, when grubs Þrst became detectable in their backs.…”

“…Considering that in this experiment animals were treated 2 mo before the Þrst appearance of grubs on the back, it seems that the application of treatment that late could be the cause of the long persistence of antibody levels. Although, previous infestations by Hypoderma could also contribute to this persistence (Sinclair et al 1984, Colwell andBaron 1990).…”

“…Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is effective in the early detection of Hypoderma infestation (Sinclair et al 1984, Colwell and Baron 1990, Martṍnez-Moreno 1992, Panadero 1996, allowing the application of systemic insecticides that destroy larvae at the beginning of their migration. Decline of antigen-speciÞc antibodies following death of the parasite may inßuence the ability of the ELISA to give accurate representation of the proportion of a herd that is infested (Colwell et al 1997).…”

Use of a crude extract or purified antigen from first-instar cattle grubs,Hypoderma lineatum, for the detection of anti-Hypodermaantibodies in free-ranging cervids from southern Spain

“…As a consequence, it is possible that by the time of our study, some larvae had accomplished their development and had exited the host, contributing to the low prevalence of subcutaneous larvae found in red deer in this study. Under these conditions, parasitological examination would underestimate the level of infestation; therefore, immunological methods based on the detection of specific antibodies, which remain at positive levels for long periods after all mature larvae have exited the host (Sinclair et al , 1984; Colwell & Baron, 1990) or have been killed by treatment (Panadero et al , 1997; Colwell et al , 2003), would be useful to establish more reliable data on the exposure of animals to this myiasis.…”

Dicrocoelium dendriticum in cattle from Cypress Hills, Canada: Humoral response and preliminary evaluation of an ELISA

“…Mean optical density values for each serum sample were converted to adjusted absorbance values using the approach of Colwell and Baron (1990). Determination of specificity and sensitivity used the formulae described in Colwell and Baron (1990).…”