ARS | Publication request: Survey of complete hides of cattle persistently infected with BVDV for variation in detection of BVDV antigen by antigen capture ELISA

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: December 16, 2008
Publication Date: January 25, 2009
Citation: Vanderley, B.L., Ridpath, J.F., Sweiger, S.H. 2009. Survey of Complete Hides of Cattle Persistently Infected with BVDV for Variation in Detection of BVDV Antigen by Antigen Capture ELISA [abstract]. 4th U.S. BVDV Symposium. Poster No. 16.

Technical Abstract: Aim. Bovine viral diarrhea virus(BVDV) is an ecomonically important disease of cattle. BVDV infections are most often the result of exposure to an animal persistently infected (PI) with BVDV, therefore, testing for and removing PI cattle is a useful strategy for preventing BVDV related disease. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the entire hides of three known PI calves for BVDV antigen with a commercial antigen capture enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ACE) to determine if there was a significant variation in detection of antigen. This information is valuable for activities such as research and test validation where the amount of skin available in the ears is inadequate. Methods. In this study, three animals positive for BVDV antigen from an ear notch sample were euthanized. The entire hide from each animal was collected and divided into a grid with 10 cm by 10 cm sections. A sample was taken from each section and evaluated via a commercial ACE test (n=614 sections from three hides). Results. Antigen was detected in all samples and no significant differences were found between the S/P ratios. Conclusions. There was no significant variation in the detection of BVDV antigen regardless of the location of the skin punch sample. This suggests that skin punch samples collected from any haired location may be used in research and test validation.