Indirect immunohistochemistry on skin biopsy for the detection of persistently infected cattle with bovine viral diarrhoea virus in Italian dairy herds.
Indirect immunohistochemistry (IHC) on skin biopsies for identification of persistently infected (PI) animals has been used as a parallel test to antigen and antibody ELISAs in a bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) voluntary control program. The aim was to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of IHC on ear skin tissues to detect PI animals in field conditions, including both adult and calves under 6 months of age. In animals over 6 months of age skin biopsy and blood sample were collected at the same time, whereas in young calves blood sampling was performed when animals reached 6 months of age. One hundred and sixty-five animals were tested and immunohistochemical results were compared with those of antigen ELISA. In case of inconclusive results virus isolation and virus neutralization assays were performed. Agreement K value was 0.96. Immunohistochemical staining in positive animals was clearly detectable in the keratinocytes of the epidermis and adnexa.
Luzzago
Camilla
C
Dipartimento di Patologia Animale, Igiene e Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Italy. camilla.luzzago@unimi.it
Frigerio
Michela
M
Tolari
Francesco
F
Mazzei
Maurizio
M
Salvadori
Claudia
C
Del Piero
Fabio
F
Arispici
Mario
M
D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy / Q000379:methods; D001912:Bovine Virus Diarrhea-Mucosal Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D002417:Cattle; D001908:Diarrhea Viruses, Bovine Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012867:Skin / Q000821:virology*