title: Comparing electron microscopy and a competitive blocking ELISA in the detection of rotaviruses in porcine faeces.
abstract: Analysis of 476 faecal samples from diarrhoeic piglets was performed using electron microscopy (EM) and a competitive blocking (CB)-ELISA based on monoclonal antibodies to the VP6 protein of group A rotavirus. Rotavirus was detected by EM and/or CB-ELISA in 111 (23.3%) samples. Of these, all groups of rotavirus were identified in 83 (74.8%) samples by EM (EM+), while group A rotavirus was identified in 90 (81.1%) samples by CB-ELISA (ELISA+). However, only 62 (55.9%) of samples were positive using both detection methods. The finding of 28 (25.2%) EM-/CB-ELISA+ samples illustrated the high sensitivity of the CB-ELISA method. On PCR analysis, groups B and C rotavirus was found in 3 and 16 of 19 EM+/CB-ELISA- samples, respectively. Although the study illustrates the high sensitivity of a CB-ELISA in rotavirus detection, the findings highlight the need to use a range of diagnostic methods in detecting these viruses in clinical samples.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic. rodak@vri.cz
authors.forename: Ladislav
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodák
authors.forename: Radka
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Smítalová
authors.forename: Bedřich
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Šmíd
authors.forename: Zora
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nevoránková
authors.forename: Lubomír
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valíček
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pšikal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000662:veterinary / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012401:Rotavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary* / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000821:virology*