Data detailed in 'Serologic diagnosis of West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis virus infections in domestic chickens' have been presented. 'Adult domestic chickens were infected with West Nile virus (WNV) or St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) and challenged with homologous or heterologous virus at 21 or 56 days postinfection (dpi),' scientists in the United States report (see also Encephalitis).
'Sera were collected at selected time points after infection and assayed by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and a Western blot (WB) alternative to PRNT. EIA results were sensitive and accurate (few false positives) but not specific, requiring a confirmatory test to determine virus infection history. PRNT results generally were specific until challenge, after which test results were frequently equivocal and inadequate to determine first or second infecting virus. WB results confirmed the serologic cross-reactivity between WNV and SLEV envelope protein. Non-structural protein 1 and pre-membrane protein reactivities were highly specific for WNV during SLEV infection, but less specific for SLEV during WNV infection,' wrote P.J. Patiris and colleagues, .
The researchers concluded: 'WB and PRNT specificities were similar for both viruses from 6 to 14 dpi, and sensitivities to WNV were virtually identical.'
Patiris and colleagues published their study in The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (Serologic diagnosis of West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis virus infections in domestic chickens. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, 2008;78(3):434-41).
For additional information, contact P.J. Patiris, Viral and Rickettsial Disease Laboratory, California Dept. of Public Health, Richmond, California 94804 USA..
The publisher's contact information for the The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene is: American Society Trop Med & Hygiene, 8000 Westpark Dr., Ste. 130, Mclean, VA 22101, USA.
Keywords: United States, Richmond, Arbovirus Encephalitis, Central Nervous System Disease, Encephalitis, Hygiene, Immunoassay, Infectious Disease, Parasitic Disease, St. Louis Encephalitis, Vectors, West Nile Fever, West Nile Virus, Zoonoses.
This article was prepared by Health & Medicine Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2008, Health & Medicine Week via NewsRx.com.
