Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for efficient detection of antibody to bluetongue virus in pronghorn (Antilocapra americana).

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using cell-associated viral antigen, was developed for detection of antibody to bluetongue virus (BTV) in field-collected pronghorn (Antilocapra americana) sera. To test the applicability of the ELISA to seroepizootiologic studies, pronghorn serum samples from three Wyoming counties (USA) were tested. Bluetongue virus ELISA results were compared to those of the bluetongue immunodiffusion assay. Discrepant serum samples were retested for reaction to either BTV or epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus. The pronghorn BTV ELISA gave rapid, quantitative, objective results and should facilitate testing large numbers of sera for BT diagnostic and seroepizootiologic studies.