EVALUATION OF AN ANTIGEN-CAPTURE ELISA AN D PRACTICAL CONSEQUENCES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF BVDV INFECTION

An antigen-capture ELISA against protein p80/125 of bovine viral diarr hea virus (Chekit BVD Virus, BOMMELI/BEHRING Diagnostic) was compared with viral isolation as reference test by testing one hundred and twen ty blood samples. Studied groups were, on one hand cattle hospitalised at veterinary school in Toulouse which have clinical signs of Mucosal Disease, and on the second hand cattle without antibodies against BVD V after serological screening on herds in which viral circulation had been identified. Acute infections showed by virus isolation and later by serology were not detected by Chekit BVD Virus. For detection of pe rmanent infection with BVDV, whatever the age of cattle, sensibility w as 96,1 % and specificity was near 100 %. Under correct conditions, Ch ekit BVD Virus is an usefull tool for detection of persistently infect ed cattle.