Microelisa test for detecting antibodies to rinderpest virus antigens

A microplate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed which detected antibodies to a soluble antigen prepared from sonicated rinderpest virus-infected cells. The ELISA detected titres of antibody to the virus in the sera of cattle 3 weeks after immunisation with tissue culture rinderpest virus vaccine which were similar to those detected by the virus neutralisation test. The ELISA test shows potential as a rapid and economic technique for screening large numbers of sera for antibody to rinderpest virus.