Both the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the ELISA test are used for diagnosis. While the ELISA test can be used to detect the specific antibodies that are produced as the immune response to an M. hyo infection that has already occurred, PCR testing can detect the actual presence of the pathogen in the herd. However, the presence of the pathogen in the nasal mucosa does not automatically mean that infection has taken place or is currently taking place. Under favorable conditions, the animals are able to deal with some pathogens without becoming ill. As the highly sensitive PCR often returns false positive results, it therefore only has limited suitability for diagnosis. The ELISA test remains the method of choice for determining the antibody level. More... |
