The use of monoclonal antibody probes for the detection of infectious bursal disease virus antigens

Two monoclonal antibodies (MAb), 2E6 and 2G10, were used against infectious bursal disease virus (IBVD) P3009 in an immuno-dot assay to detect IBDV antigens from cell culture, and from bursa and spleen tissue samples of chickens. The limit of viral antigens detected by using both MAb probes was 48 ng. The probes were used to detect five serotype 1 IBDV isolates and one serotype 2 IBDV strain. The result indicated that these probes had broad specificity. The probes, however, did not cross-react with viral antigens prepared from seven unrelated avian viruses. The probes detected IBDV antigens in bursa and spleen tissues collected from chicks as early as 2 days after inoculation. The IBDV antigens in bursa tissue samples from six poultry farms were detected by both probes. However, tissue samples from two of six farms did not react with probe 2E6. The data suggest that it is possible to use two MAb probes for diagnosis of IBDV infection in poultry farms.