Patent ID: 7407770

Claim:
A method of detecting antibodies that specifically bind an isolated polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:16 comprising: (a) contacting the isolated polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:16 with a test sample suspected of comprising antibodies specific for Ehrlichia chaffeensis or Ehrlichia canis , under conditions that allow polypeptide/antibody complexes to form, wherein the isolated polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:16 specifically binds to an anti- Ehrlichia canis or anti- Ehrlichia chaffeensis antibody; (b) detecting polypeptide/antibody complexes; wherein the detection of polypeptide/antibody complexes is an indication that antibodies that specifically bind an isolated polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:16 are present in the test sample, and wherein the absence of polypeptide/antibody complexes is an indication that antibodies that specifically bind an isolated polypeptide consisting of SEQ ID NO:16 are not present in the test sample.