AVALIAÇÃO DE UMA MICROIMUNODIFUSÃO EM GEL DE ÁGAR PARA DIAGNÓSTICO DE LENTIVÍRUS DE PEQUENOS RUMINANTES (LVPR) EM CAPRINOS

Abstract

Small Ruminant Lentiviruses - SRLV (Caprine Arthritis - encephalitis - CAE and Maedi-Visna) infections are characterized by slow and progressive course, in which the majority of the animals do notpresent symptoms. Thus, the serological tests are the most practical diagnostic tool as the presence of antibodies indirectly indicates SRLV infection. This work was carried out with the objective of evaluating an agar gel micro-immunodifusion (micro-AGID) test in comparison with a macro-AGID test to be used in the serological diagnostic of SRLV in goats. In the micro-AGID, 10 μL of antigen and control serum and 30 μL of test serum were used; in the macro-AGID, 20 μL of sera and antigen were used. The tests were compared through the adjusted agreement index (Kappa - k) calculated according to 447 samples of goat serum from Pernambuco, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte states. Of 447 samples, 63 (14.09%) and 60 (13.42%) were positive to micro-AGID and macro-AGID, respectively, corresponding to a significant agreement between the tests (k = 0.90). Furthermore, the micro-AGID presented clearer lines than the macro-AGID and the results may be recorded 24 earlier in micro-AGID.Thus, the micro-AGID may replace the macro-AGID inthe serological SRL diagnosis.

Keywords

• AGID
• CAEV
• diagnostic
• Goat
• Maedi-Visna.