Detection of bovine herpesvirus 1 glycoprotein E antibodies in individual milk samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

The purpose of this study was to determine whether individual milk samples can replace serum samples for the detection of bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) glycoprotein E (gE)-specific antibodies. Serum and milk samples were collected at the same time from cattle in BHV1-free herds, cattle in unvaccinated herds, and cattle in herds that were vaccinated twice with a BHV1 marker vaccine. The samples were tested in two gE enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) systems. In comparison to serum, the results showed that the gE-blocking ELISA was highly sensitive for testing milk samples (0.96). In contrast, the gE ELISA was less sensitive (0.79). The specificities of the gE-blocking ELISA and the gE ELISA for testing milk samples were very high (1.00 and 0.99, respectively). The presented results indicate that individual milk samples, which can be collected relatively easily and inexpensively, can be used instead of individual serum samples in the gE-blocking ELISA for the screening of cattle for BHV1 gE antibodies.