Comparison of assays for the detection of West Nile virus antibodies in chicken serum.
Six tests for the detection of West Nile virus (WNV) antibodies in the serum of experimentally infected chickens were compared. The tests included the hemagglutination-inhibition test (HIT), immunoglobulin M (IgM)-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with WNV-infected mouse brain antigen, immunoglobulin G (IgG) indirect ELISA with tickborne encephalitis viral antigen, the microtitre virus neutralization test, the standard plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and the microtitre PRNT (micro-PRNT). Thirty adult chickens, intravenously and intramuscularly inoculated with 10(7) plaque-forming units (PFU) of WNV strain Egypt 101, were bled and given a booster of 10(7) PFU at 7,15, and 21 d postinoculation; the final blood collection was on day 28. Although the micro-PRNT is capable of detecting the highest antibody titres during both early and late infection, because of the technical complexity and time requirements of this test a combination of IgM and IgG ELISAs is recommended for serologic screening. Serum samples that give positive results in the ELISAs can then be tested by the micro-PRNT to determine the specificity of antibodies to WNV.
Weingartl
Hana M
HM
NCFAD, CFIA, CSCHAH, Health Canada, 1015 Arlington Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3E 3M4. hweingartl@inspection.gc.ca
Drebot
Michael A
MA
Hubálek
Zdenĕk
Z
Halouzka
Jirí
J
Andonova
Maya
M
Dibernardo
Antonia
A
Cottam-Birt
Colleen
C
Larence
June
J
Marszal
Peter
P
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D002645:Chickens; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014901:West Nile Fever / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary; D014902:West Nile virus / Q000276:immunology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M