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Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence test for determination of anti-Encephalitozoon cuniculi antibodies in sera from rabbits with different clinical and histopathological presentations

ABSTRACT Encephalitozoon cuniculi is a microsporidian that infects rabbits resulting in a varied pathology of the nervous, renal, and ocular tissues. Serology based studies using different methods have been conducted indicating a high seroprevalence worldwide in pet rabbits. While qualitative results are not especially helpful in the diagnosis of this infection, quantitative titers can have increased predictive value. In the current study, results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence test methods were compared using banked samples from rabbits with confirmed infection and clinically normal rabbits. Pearson's analysis found good and significant correlation (R = 0.56, P = 0.0002). Bland Altman analysis demonstrated the methods were similar but not equivalent. The sensitivity ranged from 0.79 to 0.84 and the specificity was 1.00 for both assays. Anti-E. cuniculi IgM titers were also determined by ELISA to be an independent measure from IgG (R = 0.31, P = 0.06) with a sensitivity of 0.24 and specificity of 1.00. In total, these results confirm an agreement in the detection of IgG antibody by two different methods conducted at laboratories in the United States and Austria that are involved in research and clinical diagnostic testing of this agent.