Identification and Characterization of Fowlpox Virus Strains Using Monoclonal Antibodies

Abstract

Abstract. The use of 2 monoclonal antibodies (MAbs), P1D9 and P2D4, which recognize different fowlpox virus (FPV) antigens, for the identification and characterization of FPV strains was evaluated. Initially, the MAbs were used in conjunction with a dot blot assay that enabled FPV to be differentiated from the avian herpesvirus, infectious laryngotracheitis virus. Confirmation of the specificity of these MAbs was provided by the demonstration that only FPV antigens were recognized by a combination of both antibodies when used for immunoblotting proteins contained in various avipoxviruses. Later, an antigenic characterization of 11 FPV field isolates, 6 FPV vaccine strains, and 3 pigeonpox virus vaccines was performed by Western blotting with the individual MAbs. Whereas MAb P2D4 consistently recognized a protein with an apparent molecular weight of 60 kD, there was variability in the size of the antigen that was immunoreactive with the other MAb. For example, MAb P1D9 recognized an antigen of apparent molecular weight of 46 kD in all vaccine strains except 2 of FPV origin. In these exceptions, either only a 39-kD or both a 42-and 46-kD protein were immunoreactive. As for the field isolates, a 39-kD antigen was recognized in 8 of them, whereas a 42-kD antigen was detected in the remaining 3. Therefore, the more extensive immunoblotting technique may facilitate FPV strain differentiation, whereas routine diagnosis of fowlpox could be accomplished by using the MAb-based dot blot assay.

Reticuloendotheliosis Virus Sequences within the Genomes of Field Strains of Fowlpox Virus Display Variability

“…2A; Table 2). Moreover, amplicons that varied from approximately 0.8 to 1.2 kb depending on the number of 36-nucleotide repeat sequences present within the amplified portion of the FPV ORF 168 template (3,21,23) were also seen with any of the virus genomes used as the PCR template (Table 2). Rather, as reported previously for vaccine strains of FPV (other than the discontinued Australian S strain) and pigeonpox virus origin (9,15,22), the genomes of the vaccine viruses examined in this study did not appear to contain intact REV provirus.…”

“…1A; Table 1). This modified procedure was also used for amplification of the variable-sized FPV ORF 168 (3,21,23) in the presence of primers 39K.1 and 39K.2 (21) ( Fig. 1; Table 1).…”

Seroprevalence of Fowl Pox Antibody in Indigenous Chickens in Jos North and South Council Areas of Plateau State, Nigeria: Implication for Vector Vaccine

“…The disease affects both domestic and free living birds in nature resulting in varying morbidity and mortality [3]. The diphtheritic form is usually more severe as it causes significant mortality and economic losses in affected flocks [4]. Although fowl pox is believed to be widespread in backyard and to some extent intensively reared poultry flocks in Nigeria [5], the epidemiologic details of the disease are not quite clear in free range indigenous chickens.…”

Isolation of Avipoxvirus from Tongue of Canaries (Serinus canaria) Show Severe Localized Proliferative Glossitis

“…In this method, viral antigens separated by SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulphatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) are reacted either with polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies against fowlpox virus (Ghildyal et al, 1989;Singh et al, 2003a;Singh & Tripathy, 2000). This method is not convenient for routine diagnosis.…”