Use of an ELISA test in the direct diagnosis of viral antigens of Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in bovine blood serum samples

Abstract

BVDV is an important virus of cattle worldwide that induces to substantial economic losses in dairy farms. The major source of infection are secretions and excretions of immunotolerant and persistent infected cattle. That condition is adquired during the early gestational period.

The scope of this communication is to inform the use of an ELISA test to detect BVDV persistent infected bovine using blood serum samples in cattle of 9 dairy farms from the Xth. Region of Chile.

The results indicated that 0.3% of the serum samples were positive to the ELISA test, and 33.3% of the dairy herds with persistently infected animals. It is concluded that this method diagnose persistently infected cattle, and is very easy to manipulate therefore, is possible to test many animals in few hours.