Multiple recombinant ELISA for the detection of bovine viral diarrhoea virus antibodies in cattle sera.

The most immunogenic proteins (E0, E2 and NS3) of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) (NADL strain) were expressed in the baculovirus/insect cells system. Recombinant antigens were applied to the design of enzyme immunoabsorbent assays (ELISAs) for the detection of specific antibodies in cattle sera. The assays developed were shown to be highly sensitive and specific in comparison with the viral neutralization test, which is the reference test for the serological diagnosis of BVDV. The present results demonstrate the contribution of each recombinant antigen to determine clearly the pattern of anti-BVDV antibodies in bovine serum samples.