Herpesvirus papio 2: alternative antigen for use in monkey B virus diagnostic assays.
OBJECTIVE
Serologic testing for antibody to monkey B virus (BV) in macaque sera is problematic due to the biohazardous nature of BV and BV antigens. Herpesvirus papio 2 (HVP2), a herpesvirus of baboons, is more closely related genetically and antigenically to BV than is human herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV1). The potential for use of HVP2 relative to HSV1 as an alternative test antigen for detection of anti-BV antibody in macaque sera was assessed.


METHODS
Standard ELISA formats were developed, using BV-, HVP2-, and HSV1-infected cell extracts. Performance of the HVP2 and HSV1 tests was assessed relative to that of the BV test.


RESULTS
Using the BV antigen ELISA, 349 sera from 7 macaque species were tested, and results were classified as positive (253), negative (94), or suspect (2). The ELISA using HVP2 antigen detected 98.0% of BV-positive sera (248 of 253), whereas the HSV1-based ELISA detected only 96.0% (243 of 253). All three ELISAs identified the same two samples as suspect, and the HSV1 ELISA identified three additional BV-positive sera as suspect.


CONCLUSIONS
The HVP2 antigen-based ELISA was equal in sensitivity and specificity to the BV antigen-based ELISA and was superior to the HSV1 ELISA for detection of BV-positive macaque sera. In addition, the HVP2 ELISA has greater laboratory safety, compared with BV antigen use for ELISA testing.
Ohsawa
K
K
Department of Infectious Diseases and Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater 74078-2006, USA.
Lehenbauer
T W
TW
Eberle
R
R
D018138:Alphaherpesvirinae / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D006568:Herpesvirus 1, Cercopithecine / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca / Q000821:virology*; D008992:Monkey Diseases / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology; D010215:Papio / Q000821:virology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral