EPIDEMIOLOGIC EVALUATION OF A MONOCLONAL ELISA DETECTING ANTIBODIES AGAINST BOVINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS IN SERUM POOLS

Sensitivity, specificity and predictive values of an enzyme-linked imm unosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibodies against bovine leuka emia virus (BLV) were evaluated using a representative sample of 145 s erum pools, comprising from 3 to 48 individual sera. The sample was co nstituted according to the frequency distribution of the negative and positive pools analysed during a screening involving the whole cattle population of Belgium. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated to 8 8.9% and 100% and the predicted negative and positive values were 99.9 % and 100%, respectively. These results indicate the use of serum pool s is suitable for the detection of BLV infected herds in eradication c ampaigns.