Bluetongue (BT) and epizootic haemorrhagic disease (EHD) are vector-borne viral diseases affecting domestic and wild ruminants. Both are notifiable under OIE rules. BT and EHD viruses (BTV and EHDV) are closely related Orbiviruses with structural, antigenic and molecular similarities. Both viruses can produce analogous clinical signs in susceptible animals. Serological tests are commonly used for BT and EHD diagnosis and surveillance. Competitive ELISA (c-ELISA) is the most widely used serological test for the specific detection of BTV or EHDV viral protein 7 (VP7) antibodies (Abs). The specificity and sensitivity of the BTV c-ELISA kits available on the market are recognized for the detection of BTV Abs. Concerning EHD, a single commercial EHDV c-ELISA kit (ELISA A kit) commonly used for diagnosis in Europe and Africa was available between 2011 and 2018 but is now no longer on the market. In this study, we evaluated a new commercial c-ELISA to detect ruminant EHDV VP7 Abs in 2,199 serum samples from cattle, sheep, goats, wild deer and zoo animals. The results showed that this ELISA kit is specific and can detect the presence of IgG anti-EHDV VP7 with a very good diagnostic specificity and a satisfactory sensitivity in domestic ruminants, zoo animals and wild deer. Therefore, the evaluated c-ELISA can detect the introduction of EHDV into an area where BTV-seropositive domestic animals are present. The performance of this kit is similar to that of the c-ELISA A kit and can thus be used for diagnosis.
Keywords: EHDV; ELISA; VP7; serum.
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