Evaluation of immunocapture ELISA for diagnosis of goat pox.

An immunocapture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IC-ELISA) for the detection of goat poxvirus (GPV) antigen in skin biopsy samples obtained from healthy and experimentally infected goats as well as from goats from field was evaluated. The assay was 80-100% specific and 70-86% sensitive, and was compared with a commonly used diagnostic test, namely, the counter immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) test in the efficacy for goat pox. Although IC-ELISA was marginally more sensitive than the CIE test, the diagnosis of goat pox could be successfully done provided both the tests were combined in screening scab suspensions. The IC-ELISA could also diagnose sheep poxvirus (SPV) infection.