Detection of anti-DNA antibody responses in rabbits infected with rinderpest virus by ELISA.

ELISA was standardized to detect anti-DNA antibodies (ADAbs) in sera of rabbits infected with rinderpest virus (RPV). These antibodies were found in late (28th and 36th day post inoculation (dpi)) sera of rabbits infected with rabbit virulent lapinized RPV, but not in early (7th dpi) sera of the same rabbits. ADAbs were not found either in early or late sera of rabbits infected with attenuated RBOK strain of RPV. Rabbit anti-RPV hyperimmune serum was also found to be positive for ADAbs. Detection of these antibodies by ELISA proved DNA to be one of the target antigens for antinuclear antibodies induced in RPV infection.