Comparison of Ear Notch Immunohistochemistry, Ear Notch Antigen-Capture ELISA, and Buffy Coat Virus Isolation for Detection of Calves Persistently Infected with Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus

Abstract

Two techniques performed on skin biopsy samples (ear notches), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and antigen-capture ELISA (AgELISA), were compared for detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) persistent infection (PI) in 559 Angus calves between the ages of 1 and 5 months. The calves also were tested for BVDV infection using virus isolation (VI) and reverse transcription (RT)-PCR on buffy coat samples and for antibodies to BVDV types la and 2 by serum neutralization (SN). Sixty-seven of 559 (12.0%) calves tested positive at initial screening by IHC, AgELISA, or VI, and all 67 were kept for a minimum of 3 months and retested monthly by IHC, AgELISA, VI, RT-PCR, and SN. Of the calves positive at initial screening, 59/67 (88.1%) were determined PI and 8/67 (11.9%) were determined acutely infected. Both IHC and AgELISA detected 100% of PI calves; however, IHC and AgELISA also detected 6 and 8 acutely infected calves, respectively, at initial screening. Furthermore, IHC and AgELISA continued to detect 3 and 4 acutely infected calves, respectively, 3 months after initial screening. Three acutely infected calves had IHC staining indistinguishable from PI calves at initial screening. Both IHC and AgELISA are accurate at detecting BVDV-infected calves, but veterinarians and producers should be advised that both tests detect some calves acutely infected with BVDV in addition to PI animals. Repeat testing using VI or RT-PCR on buffy coat samples should be performed at 30 days after initial screening to conclusively discriminate between acute and PI.

Genetic typing of bovine viral diarrhoea virus in cattle on Irish farms

“…This method demonstrated 100% sensitivity in the detection of PI animals when used on ear notch tissue samples (Cornish et al 2005).…”

“…However this may be sufficient for herd health and BVD control programmes that focus on the identification of PI animals only. Furthermore, Cornish et al (2005) revealed that the antigen capture ELISA method identified 100% of PI animals in the sample population analysed when compared to a number of other diagnostic techniques. Hilbe et al (2007) reported varying antigen ELISA sensitivity and specificity values in a diagnostic method comparison.…”

Status Spongiosus of White Matter in Newborn Gelbvieh-Cross Calves

“…Multiple tissues, including brain from both calves, were examined following immunohistochemical staining for bovine viral diarrhea (BVD) antigen. 11 Samples of cerebellar folia, basal ganglia, and liver from animal 1 were processed for electron microscopy and examined using a Philips 410 electron microscope.…”

Comparison of Detection of Bovine Virus Diarrhea Virus Antigen in Various Types of Tissue and Fluid Samples Collected from Persistently Infected Cattle

“…?show "fnote_aff1"$^! "content-markup(./author-grp [1]/aff|./author-grp [1]/dept-list)> Exposure to Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV; family Flaviviridae, genus Pestivirus) results in economically important diseases in cattle. 5,6 Infection with BVDV results in both persistent (a result of in utero exposure) and acute (a result of postnatal exposure) infections.…”

“…1 The testing was performed according to the manufacturer's directions. Optical density (OD) readings were determined, and the presence or absence of BVDV antigen in each sample was determined by calculating the sample to positive (S/P) ratio for each sample according to the manufacturer's directions.…”