Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of transmissible gastroenteritis virus antibody in swine sera.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for detection and quantification of serum antibodies to transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) in swine. Sera from pigs inoculated with cell culture-origin TGEV or gut-origin TGEV were tested for anti-TGEV antibody by ELISA and by serum virus-neutralization test (NT). The ELISA detected antibody 3 days (av) sooner than did the NT when sera from pigs inoculated with cell culture-origin TGEV were tested and 1 day sooner than did the NT when sera from pigs inoculated with gut-origin TGEV were tested. The ELISA appeared to be more sensitive than the NT, since ELISA was more responsive to low-level antibody and ELISA titers exceeded NT titers.