Comparison of three techniques for production goat lentivirus antigen used in the agar gel immunodifusion test

Abstract

The Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis (CAE) is a disease who cause considerable economic losses, including loss in the milk production and reduction of the useful life of the animal. In the diagnosis of this disease the agar gel immunodifusion test (AGID) is used worldwide as the selection test. The objective of thid work was to test three different concentrations of bovine fetal serum (BFS) in the production of the antigen (Ag) for the diagnosis of the CAE virus (CAEV), to verify amongst the three methods the most efficient concentration and which the antigen concentration of the antigen produced is appropriate for the test. The method of the AMICON and the concentration of the Ag for dialysis was indicated, however the system AMICON, despite the implantation costs, promoted minor loss of antigen, little time expense in the processing and greater simplicity. With relation to the amount of BFS placed after the viral inoculation it was verified that 5% of BFS the amount that presented better resulted. The antigen concentration 100 times was more indicated, therefore it allowed the diagnosis of the CAEV for two proteins (gp 135 and p28). The concentration of the Ag for precipitation/ultracentrifugation, used for imunoenzimatic tests, did not present resulted satisfactory used in the AGID.