Abstract Title
Use of a high-throughput microneutralisation assay for large-scale serological analysis of avian sera against avian influenza viruses
Abstract
Testing high numbers of serum in a typical microneutralisation assay is a challenge due to the large amount of manual handling involved in sample and assay preparation. Haemagglutination inhibition (HI) assays are marginally less demanding, however they suffer from reduced sensitivities due to their focus around the haemagglutinin (HA) protein. We adapted a high-throughput microneutralisation (HTMN) assay to a zoonotic application using avian influenza viruses and sera collected from wild birds through ongoing active sampling. The results from this assay were compared to HI assay results.
We ran 370 serum samples collected from wild birds in the country of Georgia between 2014 and 2022 in a HI assay against an ancestral HPAI H5N1, and a contemporary HPAI H5N8 and LPAI H5N3 both of which circulated in the Georgian wild bird population between 2020 and 2021. A selection of serum samples which showed seroconversion against one or more of these viruses in the HI assay were analysed in the HTMN assay against these viruses, which is currently ongoing. This approach will allow us to compare the ‘gold standard’ HI assay with the HTMN to detect antibodies towards avian influenza viruses in sera from wild birds.
This assay increases the ease at which we can screen avian serum samples against viruses of interest. This is a valuable tool that can help us gauge the risk of incursion of high pathogenicity viruses into commercial poultry systems, and enable us to identify potential new outbreaks and stop them rapidly to minimise the economic impact.
We ran 370 serum samples collected from wild birds in the country of Georgia between 2014 and 2022 in a HI assay against an ancestral HPAI H5N1, and a contemporary HPAI H5N8 and LPAI H5N3 both of which circulated in the Georgian wild bird population between 2020 and 2021. A selection of serum samples which showed seroconversion against one or more of these viruses in the HI assay were analysed in the HTMN assay against these viruses, which is currently ongoing. This approach will allow us to compare the ‘gold standard’ HI assay with the HTMN to detect antibodies towards avian influenza viruses in sera from wild birds.
This assay increases the ease at which we can screen avian serum samples against viruses of interest. This is a valuable tool that can help us gauge the risk of incursion of high pathogenicity viruses into commercial poultry systems, and enable us to identify potential new outbreaks and stop them rapidly to minimise the economic impact.
Co-Author(s)
Lofts A, FCI; Billinge-Jones M, RVC; Coggon A, RVC; Stevenson-Leggett P, FCI; Bazire J, FCI; Hobbs AB, FCI; Dowgier G, FCI; Wu M, FCI; Byrne AMP, FCI; Harvey R, FCI; Lewis NS, RVC.
Abstract Category
Transmission pathways, pathobiology, immune responses