Abstract:
Indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test for the detection of antibodies against Boophilus (B.) microplus was developed. Midgut, B. microplus, antigen was used to sensitize the human group "0" erythrocytes without coupling agent. The optimum temperature for the sensitization of erythrocytes was found to be 37°C. The sensitizing dose of the antigen was calculated as 2.0 mL per 0.01 mL of the packed erythrocytes, diluted in 2 mL phosphate buffered saline, at 37°C for 60 minutes. The IHA results were best seen after 40 minutes of adding the sensitized erythrocytes in the serially diluted samples. IHA was found to be simple, rapid and inexpensive test for the detection of anti-tick antibodies.