IDENTIFICATION OF EPIZOOTIC HEMORRHAGIC-DISEASE OF DEER VIRUS SEROTYPES USING A FLUORESCENCE INHIBITION TEST

A fluorescence inhibition test (FIT) is described for serotyping rapidly isolates of epizootic haemorrhagic disease of deer virus (EHDV). The test used a serogroup-reactive monoclonal antibody in a immunofluorescence procedure to detect virus which resisted neutralisation by antisera to any of the eight known EHDV serotypes. The EHDV FIT provided an accurate serotype identification procedure for all eight reference serotypes and, in comparison with the plaque inhibition assay, abbreviated the serotyping process by three to four days.