Research
Detection of Antibodies against Borrelia Burgdorferi in Periparturient Cows and Calves during the First Year Old by Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assays (iELISA)
The aim of this study was to understand the dynamics of circulating antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi in cows during the peripartum and in their calves during the first year of life, using an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). Sera from twenty cows and their calves were tested by an iELISA for detection of homologous antibodies against B. burgdorferi. The test showed 93.33% sensitivity and 86.66% specificity. At prepartum, birth and post-partum, cows showed seropositivities of 90%, 30% and 86%, respectively. However, only 50% of the calves were seropositive after colostrum ingestion. The calves' seropositivity over their first year ranged from 0% in the second and third months to 64% at 12 months. Therefore this region should be considered an enzootic instability area
