Untersuchung von Stutenseren auf Antikörper gegen Acholeplasmen und Mykoplasmen mit dem Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)

After abortion sera were taken from 58 thoroughbred and other mares of the north- western part of Germany and investigated by ELISA (enzyme linked immuno-sorbent assay) for antibodies against Mycoplasma equirhinis, M. subdolum, M. equigenitalium, M. pulmonis, M. felis, Acholeplasma laidlawii, A. hippikon, and A. equifetale. Reactions at serum dilutions of 1:32 and higher were considered as positive. At serum dilution 1:32 no antibodies were found in 11 sera. The remaining sera showed antibodies against one or more of the mycoplasma antigens investigated. The number of multiple reactions decreased with an increasing dilution of the sera. Titers were found between 1:32 and 1:256. In one case a titer of 1:2048 against M. equigenitalium antigen was found. Most often antibodies against A.laidlawii were observed, i.e. in 37 sera. These antibodies also showed the highest titers. Only 3 sera contained antibodies against A. hippikon. Antibodies against M. felis and A. equifetale were found in 26 sera. Between 10 and 15 sera showed antibodies against the remaining mycoplasma species.