The use of antigen-capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the diagnosis of rinderpest and peste des petits ruminants in Ethiopia

Rinderpest had been reported in most parts of Ethiopia when the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC) was launched. As a result of intensive disease investigation and strategic vaccination, most parts of the country are now considered provisionally free, and widespread vaccination has been replaced by clinical and serological surveillance. Details of any episodes of disea se are recorded and followed up after laboratory confirmation of suspected cass using antigen-capture ELISA. This paper is based on observations on th e performance of the antigen detection ELISA compared to the agar gel immun odiffusion (AGID) test, which also differentiates rinderpest from peste des petits ruminants (PPR). The stability of the specific viral antigen was mo nitored for 4 days, and rinderpest and PPR antigens were still detected, de pending on the type of specimen. Antigen capture ELISA is more rapid, sensi tive and virus specific than the AGID. Even if the cold chain of the specim en is compromised for a day or two during sample collection and submission, the specimen may still be suitable for testing by ELISA.