Expression of the C-terminal ORF2 protein of duck astrovirus for application in a serological test

J Virol Methods. 2011 Jan;171(1):8-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2010.09.015. Epub 2010 Sep 21.

Abstract

Duck astrovirus (DAstV) is an important pathogen causing duck viral hepatitis (DVH), a highly contagious and fatal disease in young ducklings. To provide an antigen for a diagnostic serum test, the C-terminus of DAstV ORF2 protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. Four positive and 30 negative sera were used to validate the purified ORF2 protein by developing an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). No cross-reactions were found against other duck pathogens, including duck hepatitis A virus, duck plague herpesvirus, duck reovirus, Newcastle disease virus, and Riemerella anatipestifer 12/19 (63.2%) and 26/51 (51%) sera samples from two flocks of ducks that survived DAstV infections in commercial duck farms were positive for DAstV by this method, respectively. Interestingly, DAstV-specific antibodies were also detected in 12 (28.6%) of 42 sera samples from a different flock without DVH, indicating a wide distribution of subclinical infections caused by DAstV.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antigens, Viral* / genetics
  • Astroviridae / genetics
  • Astroviridae / immunology
  • Astroviridae / isolation & purification*
  • Astroviridae Infections / diagnosis
  • Astroviridae Infections / veterinary*
  • Astroviridae Infections / virology
  • Ducks
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Poultry Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Poultry Diseases / virology*
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Virology / methods*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Antigens, Viral
  • Recombinant Proteins