COMPARISON OF ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY, VIRUS NEUTRALIZATION AND COMPLEMENT-FIXATION TESTS FOR MEASUREMENT OF ANTIBODIES AGAINST EQUINE HERPES VIRUS-1 INFECTION IN EQUINE SERA

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using purified equine herpes virus-1 (EHV-1) antigen was used for the detection of EHV-1 specific antibodies in 255 equine serum samples originating from aborted mares (102) and in-contactmares (153). The results were compared with those of virus neutralization (VNT) and complement fixation (CFT) tests conducted in parallel using microtiter system. Out of 255 sera, 178 (69.8%) samples, 142 and 36 were read positive and negative, respectively, in all the 3 tests. However, 77 (30.19%) samples gave variable results among the 3 tests. The overall seropositivity by VNT, CFT and ELISA was 166/255 (65.09%), 153/255 (60%) and 204/255 (80%) respectively. The ELISA was more sensitive but less specific when compared with VNT and CFT. Significant correlation was seen between the tests by chi-square test.