Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, virus neutralization and complement fixation tests for measurement of antibodies against equine herpes virus-1 infection in equine sera

Abstract

Enzyme-linked immunosorbcnt assay (ELISA) using purified equine berpes virus-1(EHV -1) antigen was used for the detection of EHV-1 specific antibodies in 255 equine serum samples originating from aborted mares (102) and in-contactmares (153). The results were compared with those of virusncutralization (VNT) and complement fixation (CFT) tests conducted in parallel using microtiter system. Out of 255 sera, 178 (69.8%) samples, 142 and 36 were read positive and negative, respectively, in all the 3 tests, However, 77 (30.19%) samples gave variable results among the 3 tests. The overall seropositivity by VNT, CFT and ELISA was 166/255 (65.09%), 153/255 (60%) and 204/255 (80%) respectively. The ELISA was more sensitive but less specific when compared with VNT and CFT. Significant correlation was seen between the tests by chi-square test