Method for the detection and classification of prrsv-infections in swine herds and diagnostic antigen compositions for such methods

Abstract

Method for the detection and classification of PRRSV-infections in swine herds, comprising a) the incubation of tissue samples taken from the animals with at least one antigen capable to bind a neutralizing antibody against the Type I-virus possibly present in the animal and with at least one antigen capable to bind a neutralizing antibody against the Type II-virus possibly present in the animal, b) testing whether a binding of antibodies against the Type I-virus and/or the Type II-virus has taken place and c) determining from the presence of possible epitope-antibody complexes whether an infection of the PRRSV I-Type and/or PRRSV II-Type is present in the herd and diagnostic compositions for such a method.

1 . Method for the detection and classification of PRRSV-infections in swine herds, comprising
 a) the incubation of tissue samples taken from the animals with at least one antigen capable to bind a neutralizing antibody against the Type I-virus possibly present in the animal and/or with at least one antigen capable to bind a neutralizing antibody against the Type II-virus possibly present in the animal,   b) testing whether a binding of antibodies against the Type I-virus and/or the Type II-virus has taken place and   c) determining from the presence of possible epitope-antibody complexes whether an infection of the PRRSV I-Type and/or PRRSV II-Type is present in the herd.   
     
     
         2 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the antigens used are selected from PRRSV Type I and Type II peptide sequences containing a neutralizing epitope. 
     
     
         3 . Method according to  claim 1 , wherein the peptide sequences are part of the GP4 and/or GP3 protein of the Type I and Type II serotype. 
     
     
         4 . Method according to  claim 3 , wherein the peptide sequences comprise sequences according to SEQ ID NO. 6, ID NO. 7, ID No 8 and SEQ ID No: 10. 
     
     
         5 . Method according to  claim 4 , wherein the peptide sequences are not longer than 50 amino acids. 
     
     
         6 . Method according to one of the preceding claims, wherein additionally the titer of antibodies possibly present in the samples is determined. 
     
     
         7 . Method according to  claim 6 , wherein on basis of the antibody titer it is determined whether a possible infection is fresh, chronic or vaccine induced. 
     
     
         8 . Method according to  claim 7 , wherein on basis on the absence of neutralization antibody titers in infected animals, it is determined whether a humoral immune response is limited to non neutralizing antibodies. 
     
     
         9 . Diagnostic composition for use in the method according to  claims 1 - 8 , including at least one antigen capable to bind a neutralizing antibody against the Type I-virus possibly present in the animal and at least one antigen capable to bind a neutralizing antibody against the Type II-virus possibly present in the animal and the necessary buffers and solutions typically present in an ELISA-assay.