title: Evaluation of ELISA for the detection of rabies virus antibodies from the thoracic liquid and muscle extract samples in the monitoring of fox oral vaccination campaigns.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main goal of oral vaccination of foxes is eradication of rabies in the red fox population as rabies reservoirs. To evaluate the success of vaccination a serological testing is conducted as a part of monitoring program. Two different methods are used regarding rabies serology: virus neutralisation test and ELISA.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study the reliability of BioPro ELISA was evaluated for testing haemolytic thoracic liquids and muscle extracts originated from 147 foxes in comparison to mFAVN. Also, the influence of heat treatment of samples on test results was investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The specificity of the test for not-heat treated samples was 92.98% and sensitivity 79.20%. Diagnostic validity of the ELISA compared to the mFAVN test when not-heat treated samples were used was 89.16%. The specificity of the test for heat treated samples was 79.10% and sensitivity 96.36%. Diagnostic validity of the BioPro ELISA compared to the mFAVN test for heat treated samples was 94.30%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study, the BioPro ELISA is reliable tool for detection of rabies specific antibodies in the context of evaluation of oral vaccination of foxes from poor quality samples as a substitution for virus neutralisation tests.
authors.affiliation: Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia. bedekovic@veinst.hr.
authors.forename: Tomislav
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bedeković
authors.affiliation: Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Šimić
authors.affiliation: Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Krešić
authors.affiliation: Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lojkić
authors.affiliation: Croatian Veterinary Institute, Savska cesta 143, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Željko
authors.initials: Ž
authors.lastname: Mihaljević
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Directorate, Planinska 2a, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivica
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sučec
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Directorate, Planinska 2a, 10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivana Lohman
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Janković
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Veterinary Faculty, Gerbičeva 60, 1115, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hostnik
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D005589:Foxes; D017589:Immunization Programs; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology*; D011818:Rabies / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011819:Rabies Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000276:immunology*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D011819:Rabies Vaccines
keywords: BioPro ELISA; Evaluation; Muscle extract; Thoracic liquid