Indirect ELISA Kit for Avian Influenza Virus Antibody Detection in Chicken
Background Avian influenza (AI) is an economically important disease of poultry. It is a highly contagious viral disease and is caused by type A influenza viruses. Regular serological surveillance of commercial and backyard poultry for avian influenza is essential for control of the disease in India. Several laboratory tests can be employed for serological diagnosis of avian influenza in poultry such as agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID), haemagglutination inhibition (HI) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, AGID and HI require viral antigen, and hence cannot be performed in all laboratories due to biosafety concerns. Technology Details This technology (Indirect ELISA Kit for avian influenza virus antibody detection in chicken) is a recombinant nucleoprotein-based ELISA, is more sensitive than AGID and HI, can be performed in all the labs with ease and is suitable for screening of a large number of chicken sera samples. Currently, commercially available ELISA kits are being imported at a high cost by Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratories (RDDLs) and State Disease Investigation Laboratories to conduct sero-surveillance as per the National Action Plan (NAP) for avian influenza. The indigenously developed indirect ELISA for avian influenza virus antibody detection is a cheaper alternative of imported kits for regular sero-monitoring of commercial and backyard chicken and can be performed easily by laboratory personnel.