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Viruses2025; 17(3); 413; doi: 10.3390/v17030413

Diagnostic Performance of Rapid Antigen Tests to Detect Equine Rotavirus A.

Abstract: This study describes a comparison of the detection of rotavirus in clinical samples from foals using two commercially available rapid antigen detection (RAD) kits, with the detection of rotavirus nucleic acid via a laboratory-based, in-house, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. One hundred and forty freeze-thawed samples (70 that were RT-PCR-positive and 70 that were RT-PCR-negative on original tests) submitted to the diagnostic laboratory over a seven-year period were tested in addition to 123 fresh samples (15 RT-PCR-positive and 108 RT-PCR-negative) submitted over a four- month period in 2024. The analyst performing the RAD tests was blinded to the RT-PCR result as were the two individuals who read the results. Samples with discordant results were re-tested in duplicate using RT-PCR and the two RAD kits. Both kits demonstrated a high level of concordance with the RT-PCR (>95%). However, testing of serial dilutions of RT-PCR positive faeces samples indicated that the RADs failed to detect the virus at the higher dilutions. In conclusion, the RADs evaluated are potentially useful for screening individual foals and for the determination of the urgency of the appropriate treatment and isolation. Negative samples from suspect cases and weak positives should always be submitted to a specialist laboratory for real-time RT-PCR testing.
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Publication Date: 2025-03-14 PubMed ID: 40143340PubMed Central: PMC11946396DOI: 10.3390/v17030413Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Comparative Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research study compares two commercially available rapid antigen detection (RAD) kits against a laboratory-based real-time RT-PCR test for the detection of rotavirus in foals. Both RAD kits showed a high level of agreement with the PCR test (>95%) yet failed to detect the virus at higher dilutions. Despite this, the study concludes that RAD kits can still be effective for initial screenings and determining treatment urgency for individual foals.

Research Context and Methodology

  • The research was conducted within the context of equine health, specifically focused on the detection of rotavirus in foals. Rotavirus is a common source of gastroenteritis in foals and is notoriously difficult to efficiently diagnose.
  • The scientists compared the performance of two commonly used RAD kits against a laboratory-based real-time RT-PCR test, which is the current gold standard for rotavirus detection.
  • Data for the research were compiled from two sets of samples: 140 samples submitted over a seven-year period, and 123 fresh samples submitted over a four-month period in 2024.
  • The two individuals reading the RAD results, as well as the analyst performing the tests, were blinded to the original RT-PCR result in order to ensure an unbiased comparison.

Research Findings

  • Both rapid antigen detection kits demonstrated a high level of concordance with the RT-PCR test, with over 95% agreement. This implies that the kits are generally effective at diagnosing rotavirus.
  • However, the research also found that these RAD tests were unable to detect the virus at higher dilutions, indicating a potential limitation in their diagnostic ability.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • The researchers concluded that despite the limitation at higher dilutions, RAD tests can still be useful for preliminary screenings and determining treatment urgency for foals.
  • However, in order to confirm negative results from suspect cases or weak positives, those samples should be submitted to a specialist laboratory for more accurate real-time RT-PCR testing.

Cite This Article

APA
Cullinane A, Nelly M, Dayot L, Lukaseviciute G, Garvey M, Healy J, Gallagher R. (2025). Diagnostic Performance of Rapid Antigen Tests to Detect Equine Rotavirus A. Viruses, 17(3), 413. https://doi.org/10.3390/v17030413

Publication

Viruses
ISSN: 1999-4915
NlmUniqueID: 101509722
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 17
Issue: 3
PII: 413

Researcher Affiliations

Cullinane, Ann
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.
Nelly, Maura
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.
Dayot, Laura
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.
Lukaseviciute, Gabija
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.
Garvey, Marie
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.
Healy, Jennifer
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.
Gallagher, Robert
  • Virology Unit, The Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Co., W91 RH93 Kildare, Ireland.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Animals
  • Rotavirus Infections / diagnosis
  • Rotavirus Infections / veterinary
  • Rotavirus Infections / virology
  • Rotavirus / isolation & purification
  • Rotavirus / immunology
  • Rotavirus / genetics
  • Horse Diseases / diagnosis
  • Horse Diseases / virology
  • Antigens, Viral / analysis
  • Antigens, Viral / immunology
  • Feces / virology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • 22/ETS/2024 / Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Ireland

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
  1. Cullinane A, Garvey M, Dayot L, Lukaseviciute G. Equine Rotavirus A Outbreaks in Ireland (2023-2024): An Epidemiological Investigation and Virus Genotyping. Viruses 2025 Mar 31;17(4).
    doi: 10.3390/v17040511pubmed: 40284954google scholar: lookup
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