WESTERN-BLOT DETECTION OF INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE VIRUS-INFECTION

In order to evaluate the use of a Western blot methodology for the dia gnosis of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) infection, chickens w ere experimentally infected with IBDV strains and tested for the prese nce of viral antigens and antibodies by a blocking Western blot test ( bWB). The viral proteins obtained from the bursa of Fabricius (BF) wer e transferred to a nitrocellulose membrane after sodium dodecyl sulfat e-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the chicken sera obtained by heart puncture were used for the detection of these protei ns. In order to eliminate nonspecific reactions, we used a rabbit anti -chicken serum (blocking tool). By the use of the bWB test, two distin ct viral proteins of 43-kDa (VP2) and 32-kDa (VP3) were detected. We s uggest the use of this methodology for the detection of IBDV infection in animals suspected of having IBDV reinfection and a chronic subclin ical form of the disease. With the use of the rabbit anti-chicken sera for blocking, this method is practical, sensitive and less time consu ming.