CAE & OPPV Blood Testing at UBRL Livestock Diagnostics. (Caprine arthritis-encephalitis and ovine progressive pneumonia)

Description

Caprine Arthritis-encephalitis Virus (CAEV) and Ovine Progressive Pneumonia Virus (OPPV) are persistent lentivirus infections affecting goats and sheep, respectively. Molecular analysis reveals that CAEV and OPPV share significant similarities, often categorizing them together as small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV). The primary clinical sign of caprine arthritis-encephalitis is polyarthritis, while OPPV commonly presents with labored breathing and emaciation due to progressive pneumonitis. Despite the majority of SRLV-infected sheep and goats showing no clinical symptoms, they remain persistent carriers of the virus. The main mode of transmission is vertical, through milk and colostrum, with respiratory secretions and feces also containing infectious virus. Implementing good management practices, supported by reliable livestock diagnostics, is essential for controlling the spread of these diseases.

UBRL Livestock Diagnostics provides a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), licensed for detecting antibodies to caprine arthritis-encephalitis in goat sera and antibodies to Ovine Progressive Pneumonia in sheep sera. This specialized ELISA test employs a proprietary xeno-monoclonal antibody, created by fusing goat splenocytes with mouse myeloma cells, which exhibits excellent characteristics for use in cELISA. This USDA-approved ELISA Kit is a valuable tool in managing these viral infections.