An antigen detection immunoassay for big liver and spleen disease agent.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) able to detect an antigen associated with infection with big liver and spleen (BLS) agent was developed. The assay is a capture ELISA (C-ELISA) procedure using ELISA plates coated with mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb 1H4) for antigen capture and a polyclonal chicken Ig preparation, extracted from yolk of BLS antibody positive birds, for detection of captured BLS antigen. mAb 1H4 was produced to a partially purified antigen preparation from liver suspensions of naturally BLS infected birds. The C-ELISA was evaluated for specificity and sensitivity in naturally and experimentally BLS infected and uninfected broiler and layer breeds of domestic fowl.