Rapid screening for sentinel chicken seroconversions against arboviruses

Area of Science:

• Veterinary diagnostics
• Arbovirology
• Public health entomology

Background:

• Sentinel chickens are crucial for monitoring arbovirus activity.
• Early detection of viral infections in sentinel flocks is vital for timely public health interventions.
• Existing diagnostic methods may require specialized laboratories and significant time.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel, rapid test procedure for screening arbovirus seroconversions in sentinel chickens.
• To assess the feasibility of using a commercially available antigen detection test for this purpose.
• To provide a tool for immediate decision-making by vector control agencies.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the commercially available VecTest, designed for viral antigen detection.
• Applied the test to screen sentinel chickens for arbovirus seroconversions.
• Minimized laboratory equipment and skill requirements for the procedure.

Main Results:

• The novel test procedure successfully screened seroconversions in sentinel chickens.
• Qualitative results were obtained in approximately 45 minutes.
• The test demonstrated suitability for rapid, on-site screening.

Conclusions:

• The VecTest offers a rapid and accessible method for detecting arbovirus activity in sentinel chickens.
• This diagnostic approach facilitates immediate data availability for vector control strategies.
• The procedure can aid in the timely management of mosquito populations to mitigate arbovirus transmission risk.