Comparative study on sixteen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of antibodies to bovine herpesvirus 1 in cattle.
Sixteen commercial or non-commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) for bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1)-specific antibody detection in serum were compared using 41 bovine sera of well defined origin. All ELISAs were able to detect correctly most of the antibody negative sera (specificity > or = 92%). The ability, however, to detect specific antibodies varied considerably between ELISAs. Sensitivity, estimated by testing 18 positive sera, ranged between 50% and 100%. Sera with titers of at least 64, as measured by the 24 h virus neutralisation test, were identified as being positive by all ELISAs. Most assays were unable to detect specific IgM antibodies present in sera collected 9 days after experimental infection. Only one assay, an indirect ELISA using undiluted test serum, showed a sensitivity of 100%. This ELISA was found to be 8 times more sensitive than the 24 h neutralisation test and had the unique property of showing a weak consistently positive response with some sera collected from breeding bulls. The findings of this study indicate the need for international standardisation of tests to detect BHV1-specific antibodies in cattle.
Central Veterinary Institute, Department of Virology, Lelystad, Netherlands.
J A
JA
Kramps
S
S
Quak
K
K
Weerdmeester
J T
JT
van Oirschot
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002417:Cattle; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007242:Herpesvirus 1, Bovine / Q000276:immunology*; D007241:Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000276:immunology
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D014765:Viral Vaccines