The india-ink immunoreaction: a method for the rapid diagnosis of encephalitozoonosis

Abstract

Sera from 37 rabbits were assayed for antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (Nosema cuniculi) by the india-ink immunoreaction and the indirect fluorescent antibody tests: all animals seropositive to the former were also positive to the latter test. 27 of the rabbits were also tested for skin hypersensitivity and then autopsied. Animals positive to the skin test were also positive to the serological tests. At autopsy 18 of 22 rabbits positive in the immunological tests showed lesions typical of encephalitozoonosis. Sera from 200 rabbits originating from 6 institutes were assayed by the india-ink test: seropositive rabbits were found from all institutes (9·1 to 81·9% incidence), with serum titres ranging from 1:125 to 1:5000. The india-ink test appears to be a rapid and convenient method for diagnosis of encephalitozoonosis in rabbits.