Antibody responses to avian encephalomyelitis virus vaccines when administered by different routes

Antibody responses to a commercial avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) vaccine administered by different routes were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Responses to single doses of vaccine administered by the ocular route to 10% of a flock were comparable with those obtained when all birds received a single dose in the drinking water. However, ocular vaccination of 5% of the flock resulted in significantly lower responses than those obtained when 10% were vaccinated. Maternal antibody was shown by the ELISA to persist in chickens from vaccinated flocks for up to 21 days after hatching. Day-old chickens with serum absorbances of < 0.3 at 492 nm, as determined by the ELISA, were shown to be susceptible to intracerebral challenge with the neurotropic Van Roekel strain of AEV.     

Detection of avian encephalomyelitis virus

Methods for the detection of two strains of avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) in chick embryo brain cell cultures and chickens were compared. It was found that the agar gel precipitin test (AGPT) and the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) carried out on the serum of inoculated chickens were more sensitive than either the indirect fluorescent antibody test in cell cultures or the detection of clinical signs in chicks. On the basis of results obtained in this experiment the effects were then determined of routes and time of inoculation of chickens on the detection of AEV. It was found that birds infected at two weeks old produced higher antibody titres than one-day-old birds and the AGPT and ELISA detected comparable levels of antibody in them. It was recommended that the tests to detect the presence of AEV as a contaminant of vaccines be replaced by a serological test carried out on chicks inoculated intramuscularly at two weeks old.     

Effects of blood sample mishandling on ELISA results for infectious bronchitis virus, avian encephalomyelitis virus and chicken anaemia virus

This study determined the effect of sample mishandling on the performance of ELISAs for detection of antibodies against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) and chicken anaemia virus (CAV) in the serum of chickens. The effects of five different sample mishandling treatments were assessed: heat treatment, repetitive freezing and thawing and three levels of severity of haemolysis. These mishandling treatments simulated different conditions that might occur during routine blood collection, transport or storage in a clinical practice setting. Each mishandling treatment was experimentally applied under laboratory conditions and then samples were assayed for antibodies against IBV, AEV and CAV using commercial ELISA kits. Severe haemolysis had the most consistent detrimental effect on ELISA performance, producing results that were significantly different from the reference standard in all three ELISAs, although the direction of the effect varied (less positive for the IBV and CAV assays; more positive for the AEV assay). Moderate levels of haemolysis had a similar, but less consistent, effect to that of severe haemolysis, producing results that were significantly different from the reference standard only for the IBV (less positive) and AEV (more positive) ELISAs. Repetitive freeze-thawing also produced a significant effect on ELISA results for IBV (less positive) and AEV (more positive). The IBV ELISA appeared to be most susceptible to the effects of serum maltreatment. The findings from this study suggest that unpredictable variation in the results of ELISAs can occur due to different sample mishandling treatments.     

Development and application of an ELISA technique for the detection of antibody to avian encephalomyelitis viruses

A rapid sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of antibody to avian encephalomyelitis viruses (AEVs) in chickens using purified antigen is described. The procedure differed from others which have been described for AEV, in that it involved a negative antigen subtraction step which accounted for the variable adhesiveness of chicken sera to plastic surfaces. The procedure was reproducible (between-assay coefficient of variation 8.95 per cent) and a good correlation was observed with results obtained by neutralisation index tests (r = 0.91, P less than 0.1). The assay detects only AEV-specific antibody and allows monitoring of the spread of AEV in flocks.     

J亚群禽白血病病毒(ALV-J)ELISA检测方法的建立

利用抗J亚群禽白血病病毒（ALV—J）囊膜蛋白特异性单克隆抗体JE9，建立了检测ALV—J env抗原抗体免疫复合物的ELISA方法。应用该方法检测SPF鸡血清、鸡抗禽流感H9亚型阳性血清、鸡沙门氏菌阳性血清、鸡腺病毒阳性血清、鸡新城疫阳性血清．结果均为阴性，无交叉反应；抗ALV—J阳性血清与ALV—J特异性单克隆抗体JE9能相互阻断；ALV—J阳性血清经酸处理后，ELISA检测的D490差值明显下降。对部分攻毒鸡血清样本及田间ALV—J阳性血清样本进行电镜观察，可见ALV—J样病毒粒子及ALV—J样免疫复合物。经与间接免疫荧光（IFA）检测ALV—J env抗体结果比较表明，建立的ELISA方法与IFA方法两者具有较好的群体符合率，群体符合率为8／9。这些结果表明，本研究建立的ELISA方法在ALV—J的诊断中具有很好的应用前景。     

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibody to avian encephalomyelitis virus in chickens

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibody to avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) has been developed for determining whether existing AEV control programs adequately protect breeder hens. A partially purified AEV antigen was bound to microcuvettes for reaction with specific primary antibody. A second antibody, rabbit anti-chicken immunoglobulin G (IgG) conjugated with horseradish peroxidase, was employed to react with bound primary IgG. The relative amount of bound primary IgG was detected using ortho-phenylenediamine as a substrate for enzymatic production of a chromogen by horseradish peroxidase. Intensity of absorbance of the chromogen at 490 nm was related to the bound primary antibody by the titration method. Negative antisera were surveyed to establish an appropriate positive/negative cutoff level at twice the mean absorbance of negative sera at a 1:100 dilution. The test reagents for the ELISA were optimized by reagent titrations utilizing known positive and negative antisera for discrimination. The optimized ELISA had a coefficient of variation of from 1.2 to 3.3 for within-assay titer and of 2.4 for between-assay mean titer. Even though the ELISA detected only specific IgG, it was as accurate as the virus-neutralization test for evaluating the immune status of hens to AEV. Moreover, the ELISA was more economical in the use of reagents, time, and personnel and was free from dependence on susceptible embryos. Since ELISAs can be standardized and measured with manual or automated instruments, the derived ELISA can be easily and economically used to evaluate the immune status of breeder hens in commercial poultry operations.     

云南省地方品种鸡群4种垂直传播病毒血清流行病学调查

为了解云南省地方品种鸡群中禽白血病病毒(ALV)、禽网状内皮组织增生症病毒(REV)、鸡传染性贫血病毒(CAV)和禽脑脊髓炎病毒(AEV)的感染情况,采用ELISA方法对云南省滇东、滇西、滇中、滇南和滇北5个区域8个地方品种鸡群的2295份血清样品进行了上述4种垂直传播病毒的抗体检测。结果显示:云南省8个地方品种鸡群中,ALV、REV、CAV和AEV平均抗体阳性率分别为27.02%、72.77%、98.47%和76.25%,二重、三重、四重感染率分别为32.90%、36.38%、15.90%;不同区域、不同品种鸡群中均存在上述4种病原的感染,抗体阳性率有一定差异,但无规律性。结果表明,云南省地方品种鸡群中4种垂直传播病毒感染率较高,流行面较广,且呈现严重的混合感染状态。结果提示:应重视这4种可垂直传播病原的流行控制,谨防因病毒混合感染导致重大疫病免疫失败;继续加强抗体检测,及时淘汰阳性鸡群,净化种群,同时定期进行疫苗污染监测,提升饲养管理水平,保障云南省地方鸡种质资源的安全健康发展。     

禽脑脊髓炎病毒单克隆抗体的制备与初步应用

利用提纯的禽脑脊髓炎病毒（AEV）Van Roekel株作为免疫原，免疫6周龄BALB／c小鼠，采取其脾细胞与SP2／0骨髓瘤细胞融合，用间接ELISA法筛选，间接免疫荧光法（IFA）和免疫组织化学法鉴定，经3次亚克隆得到了稳定分泌抗AEV单克隆抗体的杂交瘤细胞株F11和G2，制备了腹水，并利用该单克隆抗体初步建立了Dot—ELISA、间接ELISA和IFA等特异性检测AEV抗原的方法。     

禽脑脊髓炎病毒单克隆抗体的制备、鉴定与初步应用

为获得禽脑脊髓炎病毒(Avian Encephalomyelitis virus,AEV)VP1蛋白的单克隆抗体,通过原核表达AEV VP1蛋白,纯化后作为免疫原免疫BALB/c小鼠,并按常规方法制备杂交瘤细胞。经ELISA方法筛选阳性杂交瘤细胞,经过3次亚克隆获得2株杂交瘤细胞株,命名为4#、19#,并进行了抗体亚类的鉴定、Western-blot和IFA检测。结果显示：制备的株单克隆抗体亚型分别为IgG2b、IgG2a,Western-blot和IFA试验结果表明单克隆抗体均能与AEV发生特异性反应而与其他禽病常见病毒均无交叉反应。运用建立的IFA对单抗进行了初步运用,在外源病毒检测方面与经典方法符合率高。本研究成功制备了AEV单克隆抗体,为进一步建立AEV检测方法和深入研究AEV的生物学特性奠定了基础。     

应用改良阻断ELISA检测禽网状内皮组织增殖病血清抗体

应用禽网状内皮组织增殖病病毒纯化抗原和抗ＲＥＶ单克隆抗体建立了改良阻断ＥＬＩＳＡ用于鸡血清中ＲＥＶ抗体检测，并对北京地区鸡群中随机采样的３６份血清样本进行了检测，阳性率为５．６％。与间接ＥＬＳＩＡ的检测结果进行了统计学比较，两种方法的阳性率无显著差异。结果表明本试验所建立的改良阻断ＥＬＩＳＡ可以用于鸡群ＲＥＶ感染的血清学调查。     

Seroprevalence of avian influenza virus, infectious bronchitis virus, reovirus, avian pneumovirus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, and avian leukosis virus in Nigerian poultry

Eight poultry farms in Nigeria, including chickens from nine breeder, 14 broiler, 28 pullet, 11 layer, and three cockerel flocks, were tested for antibody seroprevalence to the following poultry viruses of potential economic importance: infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), avian reovirus, avian pneumovirus (APV), infectious laryngotracheitis virus (ILTV), avian influenza virus (AIV), and avian leukosis virus (ALV). Serum samples were collected between 1999 and 2004 and were tested for antibodies using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Seroprevalence was very high for IBV (84%); intermediate for reovirus (41%), APV (40%), and ILTV (20%); and very low for ALV (<5%) antibodies. By commercial ELISA, the seroprevalence of antibodies against AIV was, in some flocks, up to 63%. However, more specific assays did not confirm AIV antibodies, indicating that all flocks tested were free of avian influenza antibodies. Birds seemed to be first infected by IBV (at about 7 wk of age), then by reovirus at 12 wk, before they became infected by APV (week 25) and ILTV (week 30). This is the first report of serological evidence of the above viruses in West Africa. Further studies are necessary to assess economic losses due to these avian viruses and the costs and benefits of countermeasures.     

油乳剂灭活疫苗不同接种途径的效力比较试验

采用北京市农林科学院畜牧兽医研究所免疫预防研究室制备的鸡新城疫、传染性支气管炎、减蛋综合征、传染性脑脊髓炎四联灭活疫苗,分别经颈背侧皮下、胸部肌肉及腿部肌肉共3个部位免疫SPF鸡,免疫后采血,测定ND、IB、EDS HI抗体,并用AEV VR株强毒攻击,攻毒后观察疫苗保护效果,比较不同接种部位对油乳剂灭活疫苗效力的影响。结果证明,经颈背侧皮下、胸部肌肉及腿部肌肉3个部位免疫均可产生同样好的免疫效力。     

Detection of antibodies against serotypes 1 and 2 infectious bursal disease virus by commercial ELISA kits

Two distinct serotypes of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) are recognized in chicken and turkey flocks in the United States. Serologic testing of chicken flocks for serotype 1 viruses is routinely performed to monitor disease status and vaccination. Earlier studies indicated that enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test detects antibodies to both serotypes of the virus, while the virus neutralization (VN) test is serotype specific. It is useful to evaluate currently available commercial ELISA kits for their ability to differentiate between antibodies elicited by the two serotypes. Three trials were performed in which chickens were orally inoculated with either a high or a low dose of serotype 1 STC or serotype 2 OH strains of IBDV. Sera collected at 0, 7, 14, and 21 days from these chickens and antisera procured from naturally infected broiler (n=20) and layer (n=30) flocks were tested with five different commercial ELISA kits and by VN. All ELISA kits detected different levels of antibodies elicited against serotype 1 of the virus and moderate and high levels of antibodies against serotype 2 virus. A correlation existed between the ELISA and the VN titers of experimentally infected chickens. All serum samples tested from the commercial layer flocks and 65% of the broiler flocks had antibodies against the OH strain. However, no correlation between the VN titers and ELISA titers was observed for the commercial broilers and layers sera by the majority of the kits. The results indicated that currently available commercial ELISA kits detect antibodies elicited by the two serotypes of IBDV. Hence, the prevalence of serotype 2 antibodies in the flocks should be considered while determining antibody profiles of the flocks against serotype 1 viruses.     

Preparation of an agar-gel-precipitating antigen for avian encephalomyelitis and its use in evaluating the antibody status of poultry

An agar-gel-precipitin (AGP) antigen for avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) was prepared from infected chicken embryo brains. The antigen could precipitate specific antibodies to AEV. No nonspecific reactions were observed. Results of AGP tests were compared with those of virus-neutralization (VN) tests on both unvaccinated and AEV-vaccinated chickens. The AGP test reliably detected antibodies to AEV as early as four days postinoculation. Antibodies persisted in most vaccinated birds for over one year.     

Further evidence that the nucleic acid of avian encephalomyelitis virus consists of RNA.

The nucleic acid of the Van Roekel strain of avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) was determined to be RNA, according to the inability of the nucleoside analog 5-bromo 2'-deoxyuridine (BUdR) to inhibit its growth in chicken embryo kidney cell cultures. The test was carried out using known DNA and RNA viruses as controls, and the results are consistent with classification of AEV as a member of the family Picornaviridae within the genus Enterovirus.     

Horizontal transmission of a pancreas-passaged avian encephalomyelitis virus in chicks

Pancreas-passaged avian encephalomyelitis (AE) virus was transmitted horizontally in a group of 40 (1-day-old) chicks within 3 weeks after they were intermingled with two orally infected 1-day-old chicks. Viral antigen was detected in the pancreas of these contact-exposed chicks. After 5 weeks, contact-exposed chicks developed high titers against AE virus, but the chicks did not develop clinical signs of AE. The passaged virus could not be recovered from feces of six immunized chicks.     

Evaluation of the efficacy of a live fowlpox-vectored infectious laryngotracheitis/avian encephalomyelitis vaccine against ILT viral challenge

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is caused by an alphaherpesvirus, and latency can be produced by previous exposure to vaccine virus. The main sites of latency for the ILT virus have been shown to be the trigeminal ganglion and the trachea. Reactivation of latent virus is one factor related to the production of clinical signs. The development of a genetically engineered ILT vaccine has been suggested for many years as a tool to eliminate viral latency. Several approaches have been suggested. Included among them is the development of a thymidine kinase-deficient mutant or the insertion of ILT viral glycoproteins into a viral vector such as a poxvirus. A commercially available, live, fowlpox-vectored infectious laryngotracheitis + avian encephalomyelitis (FP-LT+AE) vaccine was used in field trials in leghorn pullet flocks and evaluated by tracheal challenge in a laboratory setting with the use of the National Veterinary Services Laboratory (Ames, IA) ILT challenge virus. Interference of the pigeon pox vaccine, which is often administered concurrently with fowlpox vaccine, was also evaluated when given in conjunction with the FP-LT+AE vaccine. Overall, the results indicate that the FP-LT+AE vaccine provides adequate protection against ILT viral challenge. Proper administration is essential. In one flock, inadequate protection was most likely a result of either poor vaccine administration or previous exposure to pox virus. In addition, the simultaneous administration of pigeon pox vaccine did not appear to interfere with protection against ILT viral challenge.     

A serological survey for pathogens in old fancy chicken breeds in central and eastern part of The Netherlands

To get an impression of the presence of pathogens in multi-aged flocks of old fancy chicken breeds in the Netherlands, plasma samples originating from 24 flocks were examined for antibodies against 17 chicken pathogens. These flocks were housed mainly in the centre and east of the Netherlands, regions with a high poultry density. The owners of the tested flocks showed their chicken at national and international poultry exhibitions. Antibodies against Avian Influenza, Egg Drop Syndrome '76 virus, Pox virus, Salmonella pullorum/gallinarum, Salmonella Enteritidis or Salmonella Typhimurium were not detected. However, antibodies against other Salmonella species, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, infectious bursal disease virus, infectious bronchitis virus, avian encephalomyelitis virus, chicken anaemia virus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus, and avian leukosis virus, subgroups A and B, and subgroup J were detected in a varying proportion of the flocks. This study shows that antibodies against many chicken pathogens are present among the flocks of old fancy chicken breeds that are exhibited at international poultry exhibitions.