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Guillermo Zavala, MVZ, MAM, MS, PhD, Dipl. ACPV
Avian Health International, LLC
Assistant Professor for the University of Georgia
One of the most useful and practical tools in the vigilance and diagnosis of poultry diseases is serology. This article summarizes ten fundamental basics which must be considered by the field and lab personnel for a correct, practical and productive use of serology.
1.- MAIN OBJECTIVES
ECONOMIC AND CONVENIENT METHOD, FAST SEROLOGIC RESULTS, SENSITIVE AND SPECIFIC SEROLOGIC METHODS
Serological tests known as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) are maybe the most common serological tests, although not the only ones.
The 96-well plate format of ELISA allows for processing of several samples at the same time. Also, at present, there are automated sample handling systems which literally allow for processing of thousands or hundred thousand serum samples. Therefore, ELISA assays represent a fast, convenient, sensitive, specific and economic method.
It is true that there are other types of sensitive and specific assays which are often cheaper. However, it is difficult to compete with the practicality of ELISA assays from several points of view, including quickness, economy, process automation potential (see Figure 1), sensitivity, specificity and volume of samples capable of being processed in a short time.
Figure 1. Automation of ELISA process
ELISA assays are used to detect antibodies to several poultry pathogens or important agents for public health, and even water pollutants, ingredients or finished feed, pharmacological waste and mycotoxins
2.- SEROLOGICAL DATA BASE
IMPORTANCE OF CREATION, ORGANIZATION AND ANALYSIS
Many poultry health experts and lab staff do not have much time to visit most of chicken or hen farms, breeder farms, hatcher, chicken or turkey processing plant, and to deal with crucial issues such as animal well-being, preventive medicine matters, public health, etc…
Furthermore, they must ensure the bird’s health and minimize material seized at slaughterhouses or the commercial egg decrease in classifying plants, packing plants and egg industrializing companies…
For a serological data base to be useful, the first step is to design a sampling strategy for the company so that the company’s representative samples obtained at strategic ages and in strategic areas and farms allow for the trend identification, at the appropriate time, without the ...
