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Today is :
Archives (2001)
ELISA effective in
FMD diagnosis
by Thea Kristina M. Pabuayon |
January-March
2001
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The use of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay
(ELISA) was found to be effective and extremely valuable for
diagnosing, monitoring, and for the surveillance of foot-and-mouth
disease in the Philippines. Specifically, the assay is useful
in the fast detection and diagnosis of FMD suspect cases and
in the measurement of antibodies against FMD virus (FMDV)
in serum samples from all animals either vaccinated or infected.
This was revealed in a study conducted by scientists
from FMD Laboratory, Philippine Animal Health Center (PAHC)
of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI). According to Dr. Blesilda
C. Verin, a veterinarian, and Rosalinda M. Arvesu, a medical
technologist who led the team of researchers, ELISA should
now be the standard test for diagnosis, monitoring, and surveillance
of FMD in the country. It will also be used for potency testing
of FMD imported vaccines.
It was only in 1975 that FMD diagnosis in the
country was started. The test most commonly used then was
the conventional Complement Fixation Test (CFT) and the Mouse
Inoculation Test (MIT). However, both tests were found to
be far less sensitive and specific as compared to ELISA (Cainglet
et al. 1991).
For years, the World Reference Laboratory (WRL)
for FMD carried out serological tests for the country. However,
these were done on a minimal basis and proved to be costly
for the government. In 1991, a comparative study between CFT
and ELISA showed that the latter was more specific and sensitive
in the diagnosis of FMD.
This event led to a collaborative project in
1995 between PAHC, BAI, and Food and Agriculture Organization/International
Atomic Energy Agency (FAO/IAEA) on the use of ELISA technology
for FMD diagnosis, and concluded that the assay should now
be the standard test for both FMD diagnosis and serology.
In the study, 522 epithelial samples and 4401 serum samples
were tested starting 1995 to 1998. Using 522 samples, results
showed that 17.9% were found negative and 84.78% were found
positive for sero-types O and C. Within four years, 62 representative
samples were sent to the World Reference Laboratory for FMD
confirmation diagnosis. Out of 62 samples, 87% were diagnosed
positive. Serum samples received were either for diagnosis,
surveillance, post vaccination titre and for the FAO/IAEA
external quality assurance program.
FMD virus is one of the vesicular diseases of
pigs, cattle and other cloven-footed animals. While it was
proven that FMD-infected meat has no harmful effects on humans
if consumed, this can greatly affect the livestock industry,
and has its economic impact reminiscent of the 1995 'FMD scare'
which caused meat prices to dive in Luzon. 
(Adopted from the "Use of Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent
Assay (ELISA) for the Diagnosis and monitoring of FMD in the
Philippines" by Dr. B.C. Verin and R.M Arvesu. For more
information, please contact. Dr. Verin and RM. Arvesu at tel.
Nos. 928-2177 and 925-4343, respectively.)
More Articles:
Vol. 3 No. 1
January-March 2001
»»
P15M high impact projects approved for livestock and poultry RDE network
»» Montemayor
bans UK meat imports
»» LDPs of
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»» Renewed
role of orivate sector valuable in livestock R&D - study reveals
»» Botanicals
effective against ectoparasites
»» Trichantera:
cheaper feed substitute to soybean oil meal
»» ELISA effective
in FMD diagnosis
»» National
integrated RDE agenda and program for livestock and fisheries
»» Mad cow
disease: know the risks
»»
The livestock and poultry industry: an overview
»» Scientists
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