[Detection of antibodies against bovine leukemia virus using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay]

Described is the experimental procedure of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in the detection and quantitative determination of bovine leukosis virus antibodies. The optimum conditions for the employment of the method are stated along with the optimum amounts of the reagents taking part in the performance of the assay. It was established that as much as 10 ng/cm3 virus purified in gradients was sufficient to sensitive the polyvinyl plaques. A comparative investigation was carried out through the agar gel immunodiffusion test, using a double antigen. Forty-seven out of a total of 446 sera were found to be ELISA-positive, and 45 were positive as demonstrated by the immunodiffusion test. Results indicated that ELISA could be used as a routine method in the diagnosis of enzootic bovine leukosis.