Radial immunodiffusion: a simple and rapid method for detection of Marek's disease antigen(s).
A qualitative radial immunodiffusion technique is described which detects antigen(s) in feathers from live or dead chickens infected with Marek's disease herpesvirus. Antiserum, which is incorporated into a support medium, reacts with antigen(s) in the feather tip producing a radial precipitin ring. Antigen(s) was detected in 93.3% of experimentally inoculated chickens 21 days postinoculation and in 100% of infected birds subsequently tested through 6 weeks. No antigen was detectable in the feathers of uninoculated control chickens. The technique is simple and rapid to perform. Positive tests could be detected after 1 to 2 hours of incubation. Antigen detection by the radial immunodiffusion test correlated well with other criteria of infection. This technique should have application as a laboratory research tool and as an adjunct for a rapid flock diagnosis of Marek's disease.
D000818:Animals; D000941:Antigens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001353:Avian Leukosis / Q000276:immunology*; D002645:Chickens / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005241:Feathers / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006564:Herpesviridae / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D007106:Immune Sera; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008380:Marek Disease / Q000276:immunology; D008722:Methods; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*
D000941:Antigens; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007106:Immune Sera