Technology Details:
Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) and equine herpesvirus-4 (EHV-4) together responsible for ‘Equine Rhinopneumonitis’, an OIE listed disease of equines. EHV-1, in addition, is the foremost cause of abortions, neurological disorders and perinatal foal mortality. The disease is endemic across the globe including India. The differential diagnosis of EHV-1 and EHV-4 viruses is often complicated due to antigenic cross-reactivity between the two viruses. A recombinant glycoprotein G based ELISA for differentiation and diagnosis of EHV1 and EHV4 was developed by NRCE and the kit is being routinely used in sero-surveillance at the Centre. The kit developed is a recombinant protein-based ELISA kit for differentiation and diagnosis of EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection. The kit has the capacity to test 32 samples, with a shelf life, from the date of manufacture, of more than 4 months. For the test to be positive for EHV1/4, the OD of the serum sample must be more than >0.300. The validation of the kit has been done both internally and externally using field serum samples. The test is useful for the assessment of herd immunity in equine breeding farms where vaccination is undertaken against EHV-1. Thus, this kit will help in timely diagnosis, differentiation and control of EHV-1 and EHV-4 infection.