Development of a competitive ELISA for detection of primates infected withmonkey B virus (Herpesvirus simiae)

Two competitive ELISAs (C-ELISAs) are described that allow detection of ant ibodies against monkey B virus (BV, Cercercopithecine herpesvirus 1). The a ssays utilize monoclonal antibodies (MABs) directed against the BV glycopro tein B (gB). Two of these MABs specifically recognize BV gB while a third M AB also reacts with the gB homologues of other primate alpha-herpesviruses (herpes simplexvirus-1, HSV-1; HSV-2; simian agent-8, SA8; and Herpesvirus papio-2, HVP2). A C-ELISA using the single cross-reactive MAB 3E8 allowed d etection of host antibodies against HSV-1, HSV-2, SA8, HVP2 or BV, thus pro ving to be a sensitive assay for the detection of infection by any of these primate alpha-herpesviruses. The C- ELISA using BV-specific MABs was less sensitive but did allow some discrimination between infection by BV versus other alpha-herpesviruses. It was also shown that a C-ELISA using HVP2 as a ntigen and the cross-reactive MAB 3E8 was as sensitive for detection of BV antibody in macaque sera as an assay employing BV antigen. This test format allows detection of BV-infected primates without the biohazards associated with preparation and use of BV antigen. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.