Rapid diagnosis of African horse sickness.

This research focuses on the quick detection of African horse sickness, exploiting virus antigens present in different types of blood cells, with the use of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Research Purpose and Methodology

• The main objective of this research article was to develop and evaluate a faster diagnostic method for African horse sickness (AHS); a lethal viral disease affecting horses, during its incubation period. The early detection of this disease is crucial in preventing its spread and instituting effective control strategies, particularly in regions where AHS has been eradicated or is endemic.
• The method used in this research was an indirect sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), a common diagnostic technique used to detect the presence of specific antigens (in this case, the AHS virus antigen) in a sample.
• The researchers applied this technique to two types of cells found in the blood: peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and red blood cells (RBC). By analyzing these cells taken from clinically affected horses during the viraemia stage (when the virus is present in the bloodstream), they hoped to achieve a quick and reliable diagnosis of AHS.

Research Findings

• The findings from this research indicate that PBMC consistently generated higher positive ELISA results compared to RBC. This suggests that PBMC may be richer in virus antigens than RBC during viraemia, hence more effective for AHS diagnostics using the ELISA method.
• The research highlights the potential of the described method for wider applications in rapid diagnosis and viral surveillance in susceptible equine populations, particularly in areas which are AHS-free or where the disease is endemic. Such prompt detection can contribute significantly to disease management efforts, preventing the spread to new areas and controlling outbreaks more effectively.