Aspects of Biological Control of the Citrus Woolly White Fly, Aleurothrixus floccosus in Eastern Uganda

Abstract

A study was conducted to compare the suitability of blood collected on filter papers with corresponding fluid serum samples in serodiagnosis of bovine anaplasmosis using DOT-ELISA, RCAT and Western imunobtotting. Serum was obtained from blood collected by jugular venipuncture of288 heads of
cattle and stored at -70 °C. About 0.2 ml of the corresponding blood sample was applied and dried on
filter paper (Wbatman No.1) after collection in duplicates. One of the duplicates was stirred at room
temperature and the other at 4°C. Subsequently, sera were eluted from the dried blood samples on the
filter paper with a solution of 1.8 ml PBS Tween 20% at pH of7.2 to give a dilution of 1:100. Antigens
were prepared as described by Montenegro-James et al (1988) and analysed by DOT-ELISA and Western immunoblot at dilutions ranging from 1:25 to 1:200. Results showed that dried blood samples on
filter paper were suitable for sero-epid€miological studies of bovine anaplasmosis and storage at room
temperature for 6 months did not affect reactivity.