Strains of bovine herpesvirus 1 that do not express an epitope on glycoprotein E in cell culture still induce antibodies that can be detected in a gE-blocking ELISA

Two bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV1) field strains that do not express an epitope on glycoprotein E (gE) in cell culture were inoculated into calves to examine whether their sera became positive in a gE-blocking ELISA that detects antibodies against gE. This gE-blocking ELISA uses one monoclonal antibody that is directed against the above mentioned epitope. All calves, except one, infected with these gE-epitope negative BHV1 strains, became positive in this gE-blocking ELISA, about two weeks later than in another gE-ELISA and a gB-ELISA. However, cattle infected with BHV1 strains that do express this particular gE-epitope showed a similar type of antibody responses. These findings demonstrate that BHV1 strains that do not express a particular gE-epitope in cell culture, still can induce antibodies that are detected in a blocking ELISA that measures antibodies against that epitope.