Application of real-time PCR and ELISA assays for equine influenza virus to determine the duration of viral RNA shedding and onset of antibody response in naturally infected horses.

During the equine influenza (EI) outbreak, two assays were used in parallel to diagnose the disease, to demonstrate freedom from infection in disease control zones and ultimately to demonstrate that EI virus had been eliminated from the Australian horse population. A longitudinal study of a population of naturally infected horses was established to determine the performance characteristics of these assays.