Studies on hemagglutination activity of caprine herpesvirus-1

The aim of this study was to investigate the hemagglutination properties of caprine herpesvirus-1 (CpHV-1) and their application for CpHV-1 antigen detection and evaluation of the dynamics of post-infectious/vaccine antibody production. CpHV-1 hemagglutination activity was proved only with mouse erythrocytes, PBS and saline solutions at 4°C and 22°C. In vaccinated animals, goats and bucks with respiratory and genital clinical symptoms the antibody titers obtained by microtiter virus neutralization test (MVNT) were significantly higher (P<0.05) compared to those determined by inhibition hemagglutination test (IHA), while in aborted animals the former were lower than the latter. The diagnostic specificity (Dsp) and sensitivity (Dse) of IHA was determined by comparison of the antibody titers obtained by MVNT. Between groups comparison of MVNT versus IHA test showed significantly higher (2 = 8, P<0.0047) Dse of IHA for aborted animals and vaccinated animals only. No significant differences were found for the Dsp of any of the investigated groups. IHA test is a suitable method for detecting antibody production after the onset of the disease when IgM antibodies predominate and can be successfully used as an additional method for epidemiological studies and tracing of CpHV-1 antibodies formation and exhaustion.