What is the role of positive and negative serum samples in the diagnosis of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis?
Answer from top 10 papers
The diagnosis of infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR) involves the detection of antibodies against Bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) in serum samples. Positive serum samples indicate the presence of antibodies and, hence, exposure to the virus, while negative serum samples lack these antibodies, suggesting no exposure. In Chandranaik et al. (2016), a micro-serum neutralization test was used to screen serum samples from various bovine species across India, with 39.2% testing positive for BHV-1 antibodies. Bettini et al. (2023) reported a 32.25% seroprevalence using serum neutralization tests, with a 4% positivity rate in semen samples for the virus. Nettleton and Russell (2017) utilized indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine a seroprevalence of 26.3% in their study population.
Interestingly, despite the detection of positive serum samples, the autonomous province of Bolzano in Italy has been declared IBR-free, as positive results were not confirmed through seroneutralization (Viu et al., 2015). This highlights the importance of confirmatory testing to validate initial screening results. Additionally, Kollannur et al. (2014) developed an indirect ELISA based on BoHV1 glycoprotein E, which showed high sensitivity and specificity, indicating its potential as a confirmatory diagnostic tool.
In summary, positive and negative serum samples are crucial for the diagnosis of IBR, with various studies reporting different seroprevalence rates (Bettini et al., 2023; Chandranaik et al., 2016; Nettleton & Russell, 2017). Confirmatory tests are essential to ensure the accuracy of the diagnosis, as evidenced by the case of Bolzano and the development of a highly sensitive and specific ELISA (Kollannur et al., 2014; Viu et al., 2015). These diagnostic tools are vital for the surveillance and control of IBR in cattle populations.
Source Papers