Development and Validation of a Recombinant Envelop Glycoprotein Based Indirect Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay to Detect the Antibody to REV

Based on the antigenic analysis of Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) envelop glycoprotein (env) protein, an alternative indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of REV antibody was developed using a truncated env protein of REV produced in Escherichia coli. This assay was validated by comparison with an indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and a REV-based ELISA. The diagnostic sensitivity (DSN), specificity (DSP) and accuracy of the env indirect-ELISA (ienv-ELISA) were 93.7, 93.3 and 93.6% compared with IFA on 1 380 field serum samples, and 84.8, 95.2 and 91.7% compared with the REV-based ELISA on 96 field sera, respectively. Cross-reactivity assay showed that this assay was REV-specific. Repeatability test revealed that the coefficients of variation of positive sera within and between runs were less than 15%. This method is simpler to produce and perform, time-saving and suitable for large scale survey of REV antibody at low cost.