Using 85 sera collected from horses that had been experimentally infected with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) and 200 field sera collected from racehorses in Japan, we compared 4 agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) kits for serologic detection of EIAV antibodies from Idexx, VMRD, IDvet, and the National Engineering Research Center of Veterinary Biologics, China (NECVB). The positive control lines were sufficiently clear in all kits for evaluation to be made, with slight differences in sharpness: NECVB was the sharpest, followed by VMRD, IDvet, and Idexx. The test results for all 285 samples agreed among the 4 kits, with 62 positives and 223 negatives. The sensitivities and specificities of VMRD, IDvet, and NECVB compared with the Idexx kit were 100%, and the kappa coefficient values between the kits were 1.0 for all combinations. We concluded that the testing capacity of these 4 kits was virtually identical.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess available assay methods for infectious bursal disease (IBD) diagnosis and seromonitoring in local birds. It also sought to know the prevalence of IBD antibodies among local chickens and guinea fowls in Kwara state, North Central Nigeria.
METHODS: Sera were obtained from local chickens and guinea fowls and IBD virus (IBDV) antibodies were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), indirect hemagglutination (IHA) test, and agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test.
RESULTS: A total of 265 sera were obtained from local birds during dry and wet seasons. ELISA recorded the highest prevalence of 81.1% (215/265) while IHA and AGID detected IBDV antibodies in 183 (69.1%) and 122 (46%) birds, respectively. Significant differences were established for IBD-positive sera based on the assay method used, bird species, and seasons.
CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that ELISA is the most sensitive and reliable assay method while AGID is the least. It also showed that there is a high prevalence of IBDV antibodies among local birds which were not vaccinated, and this implies a high IBDV activity among these bird species in the study area. This may have significant epidemiological implications on the spread of the virus to exotic bird reared in the rural areas on a commercial scale. Thus, this study suggests continuous surveillance, awareness campaign, and advocacy for vaccination of indigenous birds against IBD.

Spontaneous ovine paratuberculosis in an organized farm was diagnosed based on histopathological lesions, demonstration of acid-fast bacilli in different visceral organs, and detection of antibody levels against Mycobacterium paratuberculosis by agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). Out of 190 morbid specimens examined histopathologically, 77% of specimens had pathological lesions, which included predominant epithelioid cell formation, infiltration of lymphocytes, monocytes and macrophages. In acid-fast staining of tissue sections, 74% of intestinal specimens and 53% of mesenteric lymph nodes were positive for the presence of acid-fast bacilli. Hematologically, the animals were showing leucopenia, macrocytic and normochromic anemia. Out of 49 animals tested, 28.5% of animals were positive for antibodies against M. paratuberculosis. Local breeds, namely Nilagiri and Sandyno sheep, were found to be more susceptible than exotic breeds, namely Dorset. Females were more susceptible than males. Mortality was noticed in the age group of 4months to 10years.

In the absence of an effective vaccine, the success of the test and removal approach for the control of equine infectious anemia (EIA) cannot be overstated, at least in those areas where testing has been traditionally routine. This article addresses 4 main aspects: what has been learned about EIA virus, host control of its replication, and inapparent carriers; international status regarding the control of EIA; diagnostic and laboratory investigation; and reducing the spread of blood-borne infections by veterinarians. An attempt is made to put these issues into practical contemporary perspectives for the equine practitioner.

Equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 (EHV-1 and 4) infect most of the world\'s horses, causing serious clinical illness. Viral glycoproteins have been identified as the immunodominant antigens that generate the antiviral serological responses to EHV-1 and EHV-4 in infected horses. Here, glycoprotein D of EHV-1 was expressed by a recombinant baculovirus, purified and evaluated by a simple agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). Compared with virus neutralization, serological analysis by AGID showed good specificity (100%) and sensitivity (99.5%). The estimated Kappa values for repeatability and reproducibility were satisfactory. Thus, this rapid, inexpensive, simple and highly specific AGID test seems to be a valuable alternative tool for serological detection of antibodies against both EHV-1 and EHV-4.