Validation of the luciferase immunoprecipitation system based antibody detection assay for TBE virus in dogs and cats

Background Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a single-stranded RNA virus of the Flaviviridae family and the causative agent of tick-borne encephalitis. European strains are mainly vectored by Ixodes ricinus. Clinical manifestation varies between individuals and can be asymptomatic to febrile illness in the first phase and results in severe neurological complications like meningitis, meningoencephalitis or meningoencephalomyelitis in the second phase. An early detection of TBEV infections would be preferable. To compare the protective role of anti-TBEV antibody responses in different hosts and between individuals, we developed a luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) antibody detection assay.

Aim To validate the LIPS assay in dogs and cats.

Materials and methods Antibody reactions from 399 dogs and 143 cats, unselected inpatients of the small animal clinic, were screened, resulting in a seroprevalence of 1 %. ELISA detected 3 positive and 3 questionable results in the dog samples and 2 questionable results in the cat samples. Validation of dog samples by LIPS showed 4 positive results, confirming the 3 ELISA-positive samples and 1 of the questionable samples, but no positive result in the cat samples.

Results The LIPS assay showed a high agreement with TBEV antibody detection by ELISA. Expression of all antigen fusion proteins was confirmed and appropriate assay performance was verified with intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation of 21 % and 17 %, respectively.

Conclusion The LIPS assay seemed to be a useful tool for detection of TBEV antibodies and for early localisation of potential new endemic hot spots.

Publication History

Article published online:
15 February 2021