Preliminary evaluation of four immunological tests for the early diagnosis of Hypoderma tarandi causing hypodermosis in reindeer

294 serum samples from five Norwegian reindeer herds were examined for antibodies against Hypoderma tarandi L. The first and second larval instars of H. tarandi were tested as antigens in immunodiffusion tests, passive haemagglutination and an Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The latter technique, using first instar antigens, produced the best results. A significant difference (P less than 0.1%) was observed between the antibody value of naive reindeer bred in France and those from infected Norwegian herds. No correlation was observed between the antibody titre and the number of warbles recovered at necropsy from the 294 Norwegian reindeer.