EU-approved rapid tests might underestimate bovine spongiform encephalopathy infection in goats

Daniela Meloni*, Elena Bozzetta, Jan P.M. Langeveld, Martin H. Groschup, Wilfred Goldmann, Olivier Andrèoletti, Isabelle Lantier, Lucien Van Keulen, Alex Bossers, Danilo Pitardi, Romolo Nonno, Theodoros Sklaviadis, Francesco Ingravalle, Simone Peletto, Silvia Colussi, Pier Luigi Acutis

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We report the diagnostic sensitivity of 3 EU-approved rapid tests (ELISAs; 1 from IDEXX and 2 from Bio-Rad) for the detection of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy diseases in goats. Ninety-eight goat brainstem samples were tested. All the rapid tests had 100% specificity and ≥80% sensitivity, with the IDEXX test significantly more sensitive than the 2 Bio-Rad tests. All tests detected 100% of samples from goats with clinical scrapie, but missed 8% (IDEXX) to 33% (Bio-Rad SG) of samples from preclinical goats. Importantly, only IDEXX picked up all samples from clinical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE)-infected goats, whereas the other 2 rapid tests missed 15% (Bio-Rad SG) to 25% (Bio-Rad SAP). These results show that a fraction of preclinical scrapie infections are likely missed by EU surveillance, with sensitivity of detection strongly dependent on the choice of the rapid test. Moreover, a significant proportion of clinical BSE infections are underestimated by using either Bio-Rad test. Assuming that the same sensitivity on preclinical goats would also occur in BSE-infected goats, our data suggest that IDEXX is likely the most sensitive test for detecting preclinical field cases of BSE infection in goats, although with an 8% failure rate. These results raise some concerns about the reliability of current EU surveillance figures on BSE infection in goats.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)232-236
JournalJournal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
Volume29
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2017

Keywords

  • Bovine spongiform encephalopathy
  • diagnosis
  • EU
  • goats
  • rapid tests
  • scrapie
  • sensitivity
  • surveillance

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