Indirect immunofluorescence test using polyclonal antibodies for the detection of Taylorella equigenitalis

Contagious equine metritis is a horse disease that causes endometrial inflammation due to Taylorella equigenitalis. Since Taylorella asinigenitalis was characterized, genital swab culture has proved to be an insufficient method for distinguishing between the two Taylorella species. Here, we developed an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test using polyclonal antibodies. Specificity, sensitivity, and detection limit were assessed using isolated bacteria (55 T. equigenitalis strains, 46 T. asinigenitalis strains and 18 other bacterial species), experimental and genital swabs in comparison to bacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. Our results indicated that IIF using polyclonal antibodies allows T. equigenitalis to be discriminated from T. asinigenitalis. This test constitutes a rapid, sensitive and specific tool for confirming presumptive colonies of T. equigenitalis.