title: Evaluation of different serological tests for the detection of antibodies against highly pathogenic avian influenza in experimentally infected ostriches (Struthio camelus).
abstract: In the present study we collected 177 serum samples from ostriches (Struthio camelus) infected experimentally with A/ostrich/South Africa/Middleton/2004 (H5N2) highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. We tested these samples using the haemagglutination inhibition (HI) test, the agar gel immunodiffusion test and three enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. We considered the HI test, with homologous antigen and including pre-treatment of sera with 10% chicken red blood cells, as the gold standard. Detectable specific antibodies appeared on day 7 post-infection and persisted until the termination of the experiment. The relative sensitivity and specificity of the tests under evaluation and Cohen's K value were calculated. The results reported herein could be of assistance to decision-makers in drafting guidelines for the definition of the health status of ostriches and for trade purposes.
authors.affiliation: OIE, FAO and National Reference Laboratory for Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease-Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Toffan
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: Marzia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mancin
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tuttoilmondo
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Facco
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Capua
authors.forename: Calogero
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Terregino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests / Q000379:methods; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000379:methods; D053125:Influenza A Virus, H5N2 Subtype / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020310:Struthioniformes / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral
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