A haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition test for bluetongue virus

Haemagglutination of bluetongue virus (BTV) was demonstrated for the first time by making use of a purified preparation of the virus. The reaction was found to be independent of variations in the pH, temperature, buffer system and origin of the erythrocytes used in the test. A haemagglutination inhibition test, subsequently developed, was demonstrated to be serotype specific. The storage of the virus for indefinite periods was facilitated by lyophilization of BTV in the presence of a low concentration of sucrose.     

Laboratory diagnosis of psittacine beak and feather disease by haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition

SUMMARY Simple and sensitive haemagglutination and haemagglutination Inhibition assays were developed for psittacine beak and feather disease (PBFD) virus and serum antibody, respectively. The assays were used in the examination of samples from 73 birds clinically affected with PBFD. High antigen titres (log₂ 9 to log₂ 12) were detected In feathers, faeces and cloacal contents of PBFD-affected birds. Antigen was not detected In either faecal or feather samples from 20 normal galahs (Eolophus roselcapillus) and 9 normal sulphur crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita). After kaolin treatment and haemadsorption of serum, haemagglutination inhibition (HI) antibody titres could not be detected in serum from 42 PBFD-affected birds, whereas serum HI titres from 64 normal psittacine birds ranged from less than log₂ 1 to log₂ 8. Serum and yolk HI antibody responses of 6 PBFD virus-inoculated layer hens were measured. Pre-inoculation chicken sera contained high concentrations of non-specific haemagglutination inhibitors (not detected in chloroform-extracted yolk), which were removed by kaolin treatment and haemadsorption.     

Immunogenicity and haemagglutination of recombinant Avibacterium paragallinarum HagA

Inactivated vaccines of Avibacterium paragallinarum provide protection and reduce the economic losses caused by infectious coryza. However, inactivated bacterins provide protection only against the Page serovars included in the vaccine. In this study, we investigated the immunological properties of a functional recombinant haemagglutinin protein (rHagA) derived from a Taiwan isolate strain A9 as the immunogen for vaccination. The rHagA subunit vaccine protected 71% of immunized chickens against 10(10) colony-forming units (CFU) of viable A9. Vaccinated chickens which showed no clinical signs of coryza developed haemagglutination inhibition (HI) titers of 1:10 or greater. Haemagglutination (HA) of serovars A and C was not affected by the presence of rHagA specific antiserum. The HA of rHagA could only be induced against formaldehyde-fixed chicken red blood cells (FA-RBCs). These results suggested that HagA is a moderate immunogen and might not be a major haemagglutinin in vivo. However, HagA might be involved in haemagglutination when treated serovar C aggregates fixed RBCs in vitro.     

Specificity of purified protein derivative extracts from ten species of Mycobacteria killed with phenol in the haemagglutination and haemagglutination inhibition test

The specificity of purified protein derivative (PPD) extracts from 10 species of Mycobacteria killed with phenol was evaluated using the haemagglutinin (HA) and haemagglutination inhibition (HI) tests. The HA test showed many cross-reactions with homologous and heterologous antisera. In the HI test, many antisera cross-reacted with most PPD extracts. The PPD extracts from Mycobacterium foruitum and M. smegmatis were the most specific. It was concluded that PPD extracted from unheated bacilli was not sufficiently specific for use in HI tests.     

Preliminary investigation into the usefulness of the indirect haemagglutination

Summary

To give an impression of the usefulness of indirect haemagglutination (IHA) in the diagnosis of lungworm infections in cattle under practical conditions, five calves vaccinated against Dictyocaulus viviparus and five unvaccinated calves were periodically subjected to clinical, parasitological, and serological examinations over a period of seven months.

All calves grazed on a lungworm‐infected plot. 82% of the observations in unvaccinated calves, which were positive with respect to one or more of the used parameters, concerned IHA‐positive animals which, however, showed negative results with the parasitic parameters. The titre variation of the serological examination was a further indication of the fact that the IHA detected antibodies against lungworm antigens. No indications of false positive reactions were obtained.

An investigation carried out on 46 farms on the correlation between serological and clinical findings on lungworm infections revealed a positive correlation in 80% of the groups between results obtained with both methods.

The authors consider that IHA offers good prospects for the diagnosis of lung‐worm infections.     

Preliminary investigation into the usefulness of the indirect haemagglutination

Summary To give an impression of the usefulness of indirect haemagglutination (IHA) in the diagnosis of lungworm infections in cattle under practical conditions, five calves vaccinated against Dictyocaulus viviparus and five unvaccinated calves were periodically subjected to clinical, parasitological, and serological examinations over a period of seven months. All calves grazed on a lungworm-infected plot. 82% of the observations in unvaccinated calves, which were positive with respect to one or more of the used parameters, concerned IHA-positive animals which, however, showed negative results with the parasitic parameters. The titre variation of the serological examination was a further indication of the fact that the IHA detected antibodies against lungworm antigens. No indications of false positive reactions were obtained. An investigation carried out on 46 farms on the correlation between serological and clinical findings on lungworm infections revealed a positive correlation in 80% of the groups between results obtained with both methods. The authors consider that IHA offers good prospects for the diagnosis of lung-worm infections.     

Comparison of the indirect haemagglutination and gel diffusion test for serotyping Haemophilus parasuis

The aim of this study was to compare the use of indirect haemagglutination (IHA) and gel diffusion (GD) tests for serotyping Haemophilus parasuis by the Kielstein-Rapp-Gabrielson (KRG) scheme. All 15 serovar reference strains, 72 Australian field isolates, nine Chinese field isolates, and seven isolates from seven experimentally infected pigs were evaluated with both tests. With the IHA test, 14 of the 15 reference strains were correctly serotyped-with serovar 10 failing to give a titre with serovar 10 antiserum. In the GD test, 13 reference strains were correctly serotyped-with antigen from serovars 7 and 8 failing to react with any antiserum. The IHA methodology serotyped a total of 45 of 81 field isolates while the GD methodology serotyped a total of 48 isolates. For 29 isolates, the GD and IHA methods gave discordant results. It was concluded that the IHA is a good additional test for the serotyping of H. parasuis by the KRG scheme if the GD methodology fails to provide a result or shows unusual cross-reactions.     

Factors associated with improved haemagglutination by African horse sickness virus

Concentrated cell culture fluids of African horse sickness virus were shown to agglutinate erythrocytes from cattle, horses, sheep, goats, guinea pigs, rabbits, and poultry at 4°C, room temperature, and 37°C. The titres obtained were dependent on pH and NaCl molarity of the diluent, optimal titres being obtained at pH 7.5 and 0.6 M NaCl. The HA inhibiting antibodies to two AHS viruses were proven to be type specific.     

Reverse phase passive haemagglutination test for the detection of rinderpest antigen

Reverse phase passive haemagglutination [RPHA] test was applied for the detection of rinderpest antigen in various organs of rinderpest infected cattle. The results of RPHA were compared with counter immunoelectrophoresis [CIE] and single radial haemolysis [SRH] test. RPHA was as sensitive as CIE and SRH in detecting rinderpest antigen.     

An indirect haemagglutination test for the detection of Vibrio fetus antibodies

Abstract

Extract

Indirect bacterial haemagglutination was first reported by Keogh et al. (1947 Keogh, E. V., North, E. A. and Warburton, M. F. 1947. Nature (Lond.), 160: 63–63.  [Google Scholar]). It depends on the adsorption of bacterial antigens to the surface of red blood cells rendering them agglutinable in the presence of homologous bacterial antibody. A comprehensive review by Neter (1956 Neter, E. 1956. Bact. Rev., 20: 166–166.  [Google Scholar]) summarizes the methods used and results achieved with various bacterial antigens. Biberstein (1955 Biberstein, E. L. 1955. Cornell Vet., 46: 144–144.  [Google Scholar]) used an adaption of Neter's method of antigen preparation in studying the antigenic relationships of Vibrio species. The objects of the present studywere to determine whether an erythrocyte adsorbable antigen could be obtained from Vibrio fetus, to compare its sensitivity with a formalinized bacterial antigen, and to study its application to the detection of antibodies in bovine vaginal mucus. The work will be described in two sections, the first dealing with the preparation and properties of sheep red cells modified with material derived :from V. fetus, and the second with the detection of antibodies in bovine vaginal mucus.     

An indirect haemagglutination test for the detection of Brucella ovis antibodies

Abstract

Extract

Surveys on perinatal infection in lambs in New Zealand have been reported and the pathology and bacteriology of the conditions described (Hartley and Boyes, 1955 Hartley, W. J. and Boyes, Betty W. 1955. Proc. N.Z. Soc. anim. Prod., 15: 120–120.  [Google Scholar], 1964 Hartley, W. J. and Boyes, Betty W. 1964. N.Z. vet J., 12: 33–33. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]; McFarlane, 1955 McFarlane, D. 1955. Proc. N.Z. Soc. anim. Prod., 15: 104–104.  [Google Scholar]; Hartley and Kater, 1964 Hartley, W. J. and Kater, Joan C. 1964. N.Z. vet. J., 12: 49–49. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). Potentially pathogenic organisms were isolated from 58 to 288 lambs from five flocks, Clostridium septicum being isolated from five of these cases (Hartley and Boyes, 1955 Hartley, W. J. and Boyes, Betty W. 1955. Proc. N.Z. Soc. anim. Prod., 15: 120–120.  [Google Scholar]). In another survey, 5.5% of lambs born dead or dying up to 4 weeks of age died from navel infection. Clostridium septicum was isolated from 69% of 48 consecutive cases (Hartley and Boyes, 1964 Hartley, W. J. and Boyes, Betty W. 1964. N.Z. vet J., 12: 33–33. [Taylor &; Francis Online] , [Google Scholar]). McFarlane (1955 McFarlane, D. 1955. Proc. N.Z. Soc. anim. Prod., 15: 104–104.  [Google Scholar]) recorded that 7.3% of perinatal mortality was due to navel infection but no bacteriology was carried out nor was the organism suspected stated. On individual farms, up to 15% of lambs recorded died from navel ill. It should be pointed out that, in this survey, only small numbers of lambs were received from some properties.