Aim: The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of antibodies against leptospira using a genus specific and serovar specific antigen by indirect ELISA (iELISA) and Microscopic Agglutination test (MAT), respectively.Materials and Methods: 300 sera samples were collected from dogs, from Pondicherry, suspected to be suffering from Canine leptospirosis and with no history of vaccination. Using the outer membrane proteins (OMP's) of Leptospira interrogans serovar canicola as antigen the leptospiral antibodies were detected by iELISA and compared with the MAT using five commonly infecting serovars (canicola, icterohaemorrhaegiae, grippotyphosa, pomona, australis) as antigens. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using chi-square test.Result: Out of 300 sera samples, 159 (53 %) and 99 (33 %) sera samples were found to be positive for leptospiral antibodies by iELISA and MAT, respectively. The iELISA employed in this study revealed a very high sensitivity of 94.94 % in comparison with the MAT (59.11 %). However, iELISA showed less specificity (67.66 %) when compared to MAT (96.45 %). By chisquare test, a significant difference (P<0.001) was obtained between the results from iELISA and MAT. Conclusion:The present study revealed that the iELISA was found to be highly sensitive, rapid and easy to perform in comparison with MAT for the detection of canine anti-leptospiral antibodies.

ABSTARCTBacteriocin like substance with antimicrobial activity was purified from freshly collected rumen liquor using 60% ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by ion exchange(SP-Sepharose) and gel filtration (Sephadex G25) chromatographic techniques. Purity of the product was checked on SDS-PAGE, having molecular weight of 6.5 kDa. Anti-microbial activity was demonstrated using Bacillus subtilis by gel overlay method and agar cut well diffusion method. Proteomic analysis confirmed the substance as bacteriocin. The purified sample was resistant to the action of protease. The substance was active at pH 4, 7 and 10. It was also active at autoclave temperature. The peptide purified was found to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (MTCC87), Listeria monocytogenes (MTCC 657) and Pseudomonas aeurginosa (MTCC 424).

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