Fowlpox virus: its structural proteins and immunogens and the detection of viral-specific antibodies by ELISA.

This study showed a possible 30 structural polypeptides in the fowlpox virion. There were three major structural proteins, of relative molecular mass (rmm) 91, 64, and 58 kDa which were not major immunogens. Although most viral polypeptides were shown to be immunogenic, antibodies in chicken sera taken after a primary fowlpox inoculation reacted strongly only with polypeptides of 37 and 35 kDa, whereas antibodies in sera taken after a secondary inoculation also reacted strongly with six other viral structural polypeptides. The locations in the virion and function of the viral polypeptides have yet to be ascertained. An ELISA was developed for the detection of antibodies to fowlpox virus. The primary and secondary IgG humoral antibody response was determined.