A blocking ELISA for the detection of specific antibodies to bovine respiratory syncytial virus

A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been adapted to detect specific antibodies in bovine sera to respiratory syncytial virus using a horseradish peroxidase-labeled monoclonal antibody to the fusion protein of the virus. This assay plus an indirect blocking ELISA and indirect ELISA were used to detect antibodies to the bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) in 159 field-origin bovine sera. Results of these assays were compared with serum antibody titers measured by the serum neutralization (SN) test. Over a 56-day period, the mean neutralization titers and the mean delta absorbance values for the blocking ELISA, on the same sera, showed similar declines. However, the calculated correlation coefficients between mean SN titer and mean absorbance value for the blocking ELISA of the individual sera ranged from -0.2 to -0.5 depending on the source of sera. Similar values were obtained whether using crude or purified viral antigen in the assays. Corresponding calculated correlation coefficients were generally higher for the indirect blocking ELISA or indirect ELISA than for the blocking ELISA. The blocking ELISA was between 70 and 64% as sensitive as the serum neutralization test with a specificity of 100 or 90% using the crude and purified viral antigen, respectively. The indirect blocking ELISA and indirect ELISA had similar calculated sensitivities and specificities. The blocking ELISA was faster to run than either of the other ELISA's or the neutralization test. Further, nonspecific background absorbance was obviated because the blocking ELISA detects antibodies to 1 specific viral protein, the fusion protein. These studies suggest that the blocking ELISA should be useful as a serological test for BRSV antibodies.     

牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒单克隆抗体的制备及阻断ELISA方法的建立

为建立检测牛传染性鼻气管炎病毒(IBRV)血清抗体的阻断ELISA方法,本研究以经蔗糖密度梯度离心法纯化的IBRV作为免疫原制备1株单克隆抗体(MAb),命名为cp-1-1。经间接ELISA、IFA和western blot鉴定,该MAb与IBRV呈阳性反应,与牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)及牛副流感病毒3型(BPIV3)呈阴性反应,具有较强的特异性。质谱分析结果显示MAb cp-1-1识别的表位位于IBRV VP8蛋白。以纯化的IBRV作为包被抗原、MAb cp-1-1作为检测抗体,建立检测IBRV血清抗体的阻断ELISA方法。该检测方法的抗原包被量为0.89μg/孔,样品稀释度为12,检测抗体MAb量为1.3μg/孔,二抗稀释度为15000。利用50份IBRV抗体呈弱阳性的牛血清(中和抗体效价为14~116)作为标准参考血清,确定该检测方法的阻断率Cut Off值为52.06%,即阻断率高于52.06%时判为阳性,低于52.06%时判为阴性。阻断ELISA方法特异性试验显示仅IBRV阳性血清检测为阳性,而BVDV、BPIV3、牛腺病毒3型(BADV-3)和O型口蹄疫病毒(O-FMDV)阳性牛血清均检测为阴性,表明该方法具有较强的特异性;该方法可检测的最低中和抗体效价为14,与病毒中和试验的敏感性一致,表明该方法具有较高的敏感性;重复性试验显示该方法批内、批间变异系数均小于10%,显示较好的重复性。对130份现地牛血清检测结果显示,该方法与病毒中和试验的符合率为98.46%。用该方法对某牛场接种IBRV灭活疫苗的牛血清进行检测,抗体阳性率为99.51%(205/206)。另外,采用该方法对我国8个省(市、自治区)的801份牛血清进行检测,IBRV的抗体阳性率为41.6%(333/801)。本研究建立的阻断ELISA方法可以用于IBRV疫苗免疫监测和血清流行病学调查,为我国IBR的防控提供技术支持。     

Hog cholera diagnostic techniques.

Clinical signs and lesions can sometimes provide the basis for a presumptive diagnosis of hog cholera (HC). However, an accurate diagnosis requires laboratory testing. The usual procedure for the detection of viral antigen is the examination of cryostat sections stained with fluorescein-conjugated HC antiserum. A more definitive technique is isolation of the virus in PK-15 cell cultures and identification of the viral antigen in cells using an HC fluorescent antibody conjugate. As bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus will cross-react with HC virus, isolation must be confirmed by the comparison of BVD and HC staining or, preferably, by the use of monoclonal antibodies that can differentiate between HC and BVD viruses. Hog cholera surveillance must rely on serology. The fluorescent antibody virus neutralization (FAVN) test is the classical technique, and HC and BVD antibody can usually be differentiated if HC-positive serum samples are tested against both viruses. Recently the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and peroxidase-labeled antibody tests have become the commonly used techniques.     

Laboratory diagnosis of African horse sickness: comparison of serological techniques and evaluation of storage methods of samples for virus isolation

Five serological methods of diagnosing African horse sickness were evaluated, using a battery of serum samples from experimental horses vaccinated and challenged with each serotype of African horse sickness virus (AHSV1 through AHSV9): agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA), complement fixation (CF), virus neutralization (VN), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The 5 tests were also compared using a panel of field samples, convalescent equine sera with antibodies to domestic equine viral diseases, and sera from horses awaiting export. The ELISA described in this paper was group specific. It did not require calibration with a standard positive serum but did yield elevated values with negative sera that were repeatedly frozen and thawed or heat inactivated. The IFA test was sensitive but could not be used on some field sera as the control cells exhibited fluorescence, possibly due to the animal being recently vaccinated with cell culture material. Sixty-two experimental sera were compared by VN, CF, AGID, and ELISA. Forty sera, 10 positive and 30 negative, were correctly classified by the 5 serologic assays. The 22 remaining sera gave mixed reactions. The AGID had no false positive results but had false negative results for up to 20% of the samples, depending upon the comparison. The VN, CF, and ELISA were similar in their variability. The length of time that virus could be recovered from a viremic blood sample was compared in an evaluation of storage methods for virus isolation samples. Washed erythrocytes were held at 4 C, washed erythrocytes plus stabilizer were held at -70 C, and blood that was drawn into a preservative (oxalate/phenol/glycerol) was held at 4 C.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Evaluation of the critical parameters of a sensitive ELISA test using purified infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus antigens

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the survey or titration of bovine sera for the presence of IgG antibodies against infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) virus was developed. The optimal conditions of serum dilution, antigen concentration, conjugate dilution, substrate concentrations, and reaction time were established using the signal/ noise (S/N) ratio as the determining criterion. Equilibrium density gradient purified IBR virus was used as antigen at an optimal concentration of 0.60 μg/cuvette. The use of purified antigen allowed the testing of sera at a 1 : 10 dilution without nonspecific reaction.The conditions of conjugate dilution, substrate concentration and reaction time were shown to have significant effects on the ELISA test. Results from 35 sera showed this optimized ELISA procedure to be as much as 1000-fold more sensitive than the serum neutralization plaque reduction assay. Numerous sera showing no neutralizing titer to IBR virus were found to be positive when examined by this ELISA method.     

Diagnostic specificity, sensitivity and cross-reactivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibody against Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona, sejroe and hardjo in cattle.

Outer sheath antigen was prepared from Leptospira interrogans serovars pomona, sejroe and hardjo by treating the organisms with 1.0M NaC1 followed by 0.04% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). Sodium dodecyl sulfate was removed from the SDS-protein complexes by the extraction of dodecyl sulfate anions as ion pairs with triethylammonium cations into an organic solvent. The outer sheath antigen was recovered from the organic solvent as a precipitate and used as the source of leptospiral enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen. Utilizing this antigen, ELISA was adapted to detect bovine serum antibody to L. interrogans serovars pomona, sejroe and hardjo. The specificity of this assay in 344 bovine sera, which were negative in the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) for seven serovars, was 99.4%. In sera from 37 and 87 cattle which revealed MAT titers greater than or equal to 1:50 for L. interrogans serovars pomona and sejroe, the relative sensitivity of the test was 100%. The ELISA also showed a considerable degree of low level cross-reactivity with other serovars. Sixty-six (75.9%) out of 87 bovine sera which were MAT-positive (MAT titer of greater than or equal to 1:50) with serovars sejroe and hardjo only were ELISA positive with heterologous pomona antigen; 16 (43.2%) and six 16.2%) out of 37 bovine sera which were MAT positive MAT titer of greater than or equal to 1:50) with serovar pomona only were ELISA positive with heterologous sejroe and hardjo ELISA antigen respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Detection of antibodies against hog cholera virus and bovine viral diarrhea virus in porcine serum. A comparative examination using CF, PLA and NPLA assays

The antibodies in serum samples from an outbreak of low-virulent hog cholera in Spielbach, West Germany, 1966, as well as serum samples from pigs inoculated with hog cholera (HG) virus and bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus, respectively, were examined by means of 3 different methods:

1. A modified direct complement fixation (GF) test,
2. A peroxidase-linked antibody (PLA) assay based on microplates with fixed, viral-antigen containing cells,
3. A neutralization assay carried out in microplates using the “chessboard” principle and read by means of the peroxidaselinked antibody (NPLA) assay.

A good correlation was found in their ability to detect the antibodies. Generally neutralizing antibodies could be found 2 weeks after inoculation. By CF and PLA antibodies could be detected at the same time or up to 2 weeks later. All sera were tested by the 3 methods against both HG viral antigen and BVD viral antigen. HC-antibodies could not be distinguished from BVD-antibodies by CF but to a certain degree by PLA. BVD-antibodies could to a certain degree be distinguished from HG-antibodies by CF but not by PLA. This means that CF and PLA together provide a good possibility for differentiation between the two types of antibodies. NPLA could to a high degree of reliability distinguish between HG-antibodies and BVD-antibodies.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus in bovine sera

A specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established for the detection of antibodies to bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) in bovine sera. Polyethylene-glycol concentrated, equilibrium density gradient purified BVDV was used as test antigen at an optimal amount of 1 microgram/well, whereas the optimal concentration of conjugate was at 1/2000 dilution. The standardized test encountered no non-specific reaction with test sera at a starting dilution of 1/10. A total of 50 bovine serum samples was assayed for the presence of antibodies against BVDV by ELISA and serum neutralization test (SNT). A positive correlation between the 2 tests was found. However, ELISA could be as much as 500-fold more sensitive than SNT in detecting low levels of BVDV antibodies.     

Antibody responses of naive cattle to two inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea virus vaccines,measured by indirect and blocking ELISAS and virus neutralisation

Two groups of naive heifers were given primary courses of two inactivated bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) virus vaccines licensed for use in the UK. Their humoral responses in serum and milk were assayed by means of an indirect ELISA detecting antibodies to structural viral glycoproteins, a blocking ELISA specific for antibodies to the non-structural protein NS2-3 and the virus neutralisation test (VNT). For each assay, the numbers of serum or milk samples testing positive at each sample point and the mean values were determined. In both vaccine groups, serum antibody responses were detected by the indirect ELISA and the VNT, with both the numbers of seropositive animals and mean values peaking five weeks after the second vaccination. In the 23 heifers vaccinated with Bovilis BVD, the mean NS2-3-specific ELISA values remained low throughout the trial, with no serum or milk samples testing positive. In the 24 heifers vaccinated with Bovidec, the mean NS2-3 responses peaked below the level of positivity five weeks after the second vaccination, before declining again; NS2-3-specific antibodies were detected in one serum sample and one milk sample from two heifers in this group. A pooled milk sample from each vaccine group tested negative by both ELISAS 12 weeks after the second vaccination.     

Neutralization kinetics of bovine viral diarrhea virus by hyperimmune serum: one or multi-hit mechanism

The kinetics of bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) virus neutralization (VN) by hyperimmune serum followed first order kinetics at low dilutions (1:8 and 1:16) of hyperimmune bovine serum. A lag phase in the VN curve occurred when the serum was further diluted. Addition of rabbit anti-bovine IgG, but not anti-IgM, significantly increased the degree of VN after BVD virus was reacted with further diluted (1:256 dilution) anti-BVD bovine hyperimmune serum. Incubation of virus-hyperimmune serum (1:64 dilution) at 4 degrees C for 0 to 60 min, followed by incubation at 37 degrees C indicated VN occurred as a two-stage process: a binding (temperature-independent) phase that was followed by a triggering (temperature-dependent) phase. The data favor the thesis that neutralization of BVD virus occurs by a multi-hit mechanism and requires combination of at least two molecules of antibody with each virus.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of vesicular stomatitis virus antibodies

A liquid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) types New Jersey (VSV-NJ) and Indiana subtype Indiana I (VSV-IND₁) antibodies in the sera of naturally and experimentally infected cattle, horses and swine. Four different VSV preparations were compared for use as antigen in the ELISA: virus used in neutralization tests, complement-fixation antigen, immunodiffusion ager gel antigen and viral glycoprotein. Comparative antibody titration results of virus neutralization (VN) and ELISA showed no statistically significant difference between serum titers obtained with the four antigens to VSV-NJ (P=0.21) and VSV-IND₁ (P=0.14). The viral glycoprotein antigen was incorporated in the ELISA system because it is non-infectious and induces neutralizing antibodies. The reliability and variability of the ELISA was determined by testing 516 bovine, equine and swine sera which originated from areas free of vesicular stomatitis, and by testing 186 sera from areas where outbreaks occur. ELISA and VN results were correlated (P < 0.001 for both serotypes), and no statiscafically difference was found between replications of the tests. The ELISA allows the testing of a larger number of sera in a shorter time than is possible with the VN test and it can be used in diagnostic laboratories in VSV-free areas for the support of epidemiological surveillance programs.     

Studies on Bovine Virus Diarrhea: Serum Neutralization, Complement-fixation and Immunofluorescence

The complement-fixation, the serum neutralization tests and the fluorescent-antibody technique were the serological methods applied in this laboratory for the detection of antigens for bovine virus diarrhea (BVD). As observed previously, the modified direct complement-fixation (MDCF) test was required to demonstrate antibodies against virus infections of cattle.

At a certain stage of infection, the MDCF test was found to be as accurate and less time-consuming than the serum neutralization test for the detection of antibodies in bovine sera. The modified direct complement-fixing antibodies were detectable in the serum from approximately three weeks up to a few months after infection as compared to several years for the serum neutralization test. Thus, as in most other viral diseases, the MDCF test was of value for detecting recent infections while the serum neutralization test detects both recent and long-standing infections.

The fluorescent antibody technique was of value to detect viral antigens of both cytopathogenic and noncytopathogenic strains of BVD in primary fetal kidney cell cultures inoculated with field specimens. In addition, the virus was detected in six of 220 fetuses collected at a local slaughter house for the preparation of primary cell cultures. The length of time required for the detection and identification of specific viral antigens by immunofluorescence was considerably reduced over that of the serum neutralization and virus interference tests.

     

Development of an Indirect ELISA for the Detection of Antibodies against Peste-des-petits-ruminants Virus in Small Ruminants

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute, febrile, highly contagious and economically important viral disease of small ruminants. A polyclonal antibody based indirect ELISA was developed for detection of antibodies to PPR virus in the serum samples of goats and sheep using purified PPR viral antigen propogated in Vero cell culture. A threshold (cut-off) value was set as twice the mean of the negative population based on the distribution of known negative serum samples in respect of PPR virus antibodies in the test. A total of 1544 serum samples from goats and sheep were screened by indirect ELISA and competitive ELISA. The indirect ELISA compared very well with competitive ELISA, with a high degree of specificity (95.09%) and sensitivity (90.81%). When compared with virus neutralization test, the present assay had 100% specificity and 80% sensitivity. With serum samples, the assay could clearly differentiate animals from the infected population from uninfected ones. These results suggest that the indirect ELISA may be a good alternative tool to competitive ELISA for seroepidemiological surveys.     

Studies on bovine leukosis. VII. Further experience with an ELISA for the detection of antibodies to bovine leukosis virus

An enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the agar gel immunodiffusion test with bovine leukosis virus glycoprotein as antigen (AGIDT-BLV gp) were further used to test 633 bovine sera for antibodies to BLV. Both tests detected the same number of sera positive (149) or negative (464) for antibodies. Nine sera were negative in the ELISA but found to be weakly positive (2 sera) or bending the control line (7) in the AGDT-BLV gp. On the other hand 11 sera were scored negative in the AGIDT-BLV gp but were weakly positive (9 sera), positive (1), and strongly positive (1) in the ELISA. Both tests are used routinely in this Institute as they complement each other, specially if sera with low antibody titers are under investigation. It is concluded that ELISA can fully replace radioimmunoassays in the serodiagnosis of enzootic bovine leukosis.     

An ELISA for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome: production of antigen of high quality.

A reliable method was developed to produce a viral antigen preparation from porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infected MARC-145 cells by solubilizing the virus with Triton X-100. This method eliminated problems previously encountered with high background reactions associated with PRRSV antigen or cell control antigen. With this new antigen, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was adapted to detect swine serum anti-body against PRRSV. In the ELISA, non-specific reactions associated with test serum samples have been eliminated by utilizing an effective blocking serum diluent. The ELISA is more sensitive than an indirect immunofluorescent assay (IFA), particularly with late-infection sera, while maintaining a high diagnostic specificity. In a comparison of IFA and ELISA using sera collected from 250 pigs of various ages from 5 herds that had PRRS histories, IFA revealed 178 positive samples and 72 negative samples. All of the IFA-positive sera were proven to be ELISA reactors. However, nearly one-half (34/72) of the IFA-negative samples were also ELISA reactors. The diagnostic specificity and sensitivity of the ELISA were 100% and 96.6% with 257 serum samples collected from known healthy PRRS-negative swine herds and 57 sera collected from infected swine at 6 to 56 days after infection, respectively. The ELISA is technically superior to IFA, time-efficient and cost-effective, and suitable for testing of a large number of samples over a short period of time.     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibodies to bovine virus diarrhea virus in sera from border disease virus-infected sheep.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was established for the rapid detection of specific antibodies against the causative agent of border disease in ovine sera. Polyethylene-glycol concentrated, equilibrium density gradient purified bovine virus diarrhea virus was used as test antigen. The optimal amount of antigen was 0.5 microgram/well, and the optimal concentration of conjugate was at 1/4,000 dilution. A total of 20 ovine serum samples, which had been collected from animals with or without border disease, were compared by ELISA and serum neutralization test for the detection of border disease-specific antibodies. ELISA was shown to be equally specific but less time-consuming and easier to perform than serum neutralization test. A positive correlation (r = 0.60) between the two tests was found.     

Serodiagnosis of canine herpesvirus infection--development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and its comparison with two improved methods of serum neutralization test

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of canine herpesvirus (CHV) infection using antigen prepared by solubilizing infected cells was developed. The ELISA and two improved methods of serum neutralization test, the microplate serum neutralization test (MSNT) with complement and the 50% plaque reduction (PR) assay with complement, were compared for the results of antibody detection from a total of 557 field canine sera. Of 529 sample sera that were negative in the MSNT with complement, 119 were ELISA positive, and this result together with time course of serum antibody detection in a dog experimentally infected with CHV strongly suggested that the MSNT with complement is less sensitive for the detection of antibody in CHV infected dogs, especially those in early stages of infection. A correlation was found between the titers measured by the ELISA and 50% PR assay with complement, however, for field use, the ELISA is recommended as a highly sensitive test method of serodiagnosis of CHV infection adequate for dealing with a large number of samples with less demand on time and effort.     

Sensitivity and specificity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis viral antibody in cattle.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed to detect bovine serum antibody to infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus. The specificity of this assay in 304 bovine sera, collected from an infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus-free herd, was 100%; in sera from 62 cattle inoculated with an intranasal vaccine, its diagnostic sensitivity was 27.4% at one month and 100% at six months, postvaccination. In 303 bovine sera with standard serum neutralizing antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:2 it showed 100% sensitivity; and in 463 random diagnostic samples, comparative tests indicated that enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay detected more seropositive animals (61.6%) than the standard serum neutralizing test (49.9%). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was considered to be technically superior as a routine diagnostic test for the detection of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis viral antibody in bovine sera.     

Herd-level risk factors for bovine viral diarrhea infection in cattle of Tamil Nadu

A cross-sectional study was carried out to identify risk factors for bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in 62 randomly selected dairy herds which were tested for BVD serum antibodies by using an indirect ELISA kit (IDEXX). Results from the chi-square test analysis were interpreted by analyzing by chi-square test. A sum of 500 sera samples were screened and 66 animals (13.20%) showed positive for BVDV antibody. Within herd, BVD seroprevalence was 12–65%. This study concluded that epidemiological risk factors like location, herd size, housing patterns like, tail to tail system, roofing pattern, distance between the manure pit and farm, and distance between farms were significantly associated with BVDV serological status (P?<?0.05).