Immunobinding assay for detection of Mycoplasma bovis in milk

An immunobinding dot-blot assay (IBA) was developed for the detection of mycoplasma in milk. The test was highly species specific when monoclonal antibody preparations were employed in the assay system. Reactions were obtained with all mycoplasma species tested when polyclonal antisera preparations were used. Preincubation for 48-72 hours was necessary with milk samples containing only a few mycoplasma. Time from sample receipt to diagnosis in most positive samples could be reduced from several days by culture to a few hours by the IBA, thus enabling control procedures to be quickly initiated.