Unveiling Indirect ELISA Test against Nucleoprotein of H9N2 Comparing With Hemagglutination Inhibition Test

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Virology
• Immunodiagnostics
• Public Health

Background:

• Avian influenza, caused by RNA viruses, affects birds and mammals, posing a zoonotic risk.
• The H9N2 strain of avian influenza has been linked to human respiratory illnesses in Asia.
• Rapid and accurate diagnosis of avian influenza in poultry is crucial for preventing widespread outbreaks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a rapid diagnostic test for avian influenza in poultry.
• To screen infected poultry for the H9N2 strain using viral nucleoprotein.
• To prevent potential outbreaks through early disease detection.

Main Methods:

• Developed an indirect ELISA test utilizing the nucleoprotein of the H9N2 A/Chicken/Iran/259/2014 virus.
• Separated the 60 kDa nucleoprotein using electroelution and a monoclonal antibody standard.
• Compared indirect ELISA results with hemagglutination inhibition tests on 300 avian serum samples.

Main Results:

• A strong positive correlation (ρ = 0.901) was found between the indirect ELISA and hemagglutination inhibition tests.
• The indirect ELISA demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy with 90% sensitivity and 92% specificity.
• The developed ELISA test offers a time-efficient method for screening suspected avian influenza cases.

Conclusions:

• The indirect ELISA test is a reliable and efficient tool for diagnosing avian influenza in poultry.
• This diagnostic approach can aid in the rapid identification and control of avian influenza outbreaks.
• Utilizing a conserved antigen allows the ELISA to potentially detect a broad range of influenza strains.