Comparison of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with hemagglutination-inhibition and immunodiffusion tests for detection of antibodies to a hemagglutinating duck adenovirus in chickens.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibody to a hemagglutinating duck adenovirus is described. Optimum conditions for the test were determined, and the system was compared with procedures currently used. Experimentally infected chickens were assayed for specific antibody by ELISA, hemagglutination inhibition (HI), and immunodiffusion (ID). The ELISA was a sensitive and reliable method for detecting antibody, although positive titers were not always in agreement with HI and ID results at 1 week postinoculation, probably reflecting the different classes of antibody being detected.