WESTERN-BLOT-ANALYSIS OF VIRUS-SPECIFIC ANTIBODY-RESPONSES FOR CAPRIPOX AND CONTAGIOUS PUSTULAR DERMATITIS VIRAL-INFECTIONS IN SHEEP

This paper reports the development and evaluation of serological tests for the differentiation of antibodies in animals infected with capripox and parapox viruses. Agar-gel immunodiffusion tests using sera from sheep with naturally-acquired infections and from sheep experimentally inoculated with orf or capripox viruses showed cross reactions. Virus-specific antibody responses to structural proteins of the viruses were analysed by Western-blot analysis. This analysis readily differentiated the infections as either capripox or contagious pustular dermatitis. The antibody responses to the 32 kDa and 28 kDa proteins of capripoxvirus provided a firm basis for differention.