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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1972 May; 23(5): 942-945
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Radial Immunodiffusion: a Simple and Rapid Method for Detection of Marek's Disease Antigen(s)¹

^a Department of Veterinary Science, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland 20742

ABSTRACT

A qualitative radial immunodiffusion technique is described which detects antigen(s) in feathers from live or dead chickens infected with Marek's disease herpesvirus. Antiserum, which is incorporated into a support medium, reacts with antigen(s) in the feather tip producing a radial precipitin ring. Antigen(s) was detected in 93.3% of experimentally inoculated chickens 21 days postinoculation and in 100% of infected birds subsequently tested through 6 weeks. No antigen was detectable in the feathers of uninoculated control chickens. The technique is simple and rapid to perform. Positive tests could be detected after 1 to 2 hours of incubation. Antigen detection by the radial immunodiffusion test correlated well with other criteria of infection. This technique should have application as a laboratory research tool and as an adjunct for a rapid flock diagnosis of Marek's disease.

¹ Approved for publication as scientific article no. A1711, contribution no. 4474 of the University of Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, Department of Veterinary Science, College Park.