AN ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY (ELISA) FOR THE DETECTION OF ANTIBODIES TO THE PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME (PRRS) VIRUS

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been developed for the rapid detection of antibodies to the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus in pig sera. Compared to the immunoperoxidase monolayer assay (IPMA) which was the only test available up till recently for serodiagnosis of the disease, the ELISA test proved to be more sensitive, particularly for early detection of antibodies. The test was also highly specific for the PRRS virus inasmuch as it scored negative all the hyperimmune sera directed to other swine viruses and the field sera sampled before the outbreak of the disease in Brittany (France). This easy test now provides further possibilities for epidemiological surveys and could also be a reliable tool for new sanitary prophylaxis of the disease.