Sensitive radioimmune assay for measuring Aleutian disease virus antigen and antibody.

A solid-phase, one-step radioimmune assay was developed which could detect as little as 0.02 microliter of a standard Aleutian disease virus antigen preparation, approximately 3.2 ng of viral protein. Virus antigen was measured in different mink organs and cell types during experimental intraperitoneal infection. The gut and kidney were the first organs in which virus antigen could be detected (day 3 to 6 after infection). On day 6 or later virus antigen was found in spleen, liver, kidney, lymph nodes, peritoneal exudate, and bone marrow cells. With inhibition of antigen binding, a radioimmune assay was developed for antibody detection. Viral antibodies could be detected as early as 3 days after infection. Antibody titers from 1/10(5) to more than 1/10(6) were found in plasmacytotic mink. When the sensitivity of the antibody radioimmune assay was compared with that of other known methods for anti-Aleutian disease virus quantitation, the radioimmune assay was considerably more sensitive, detecting as little as 5 ng of antibody.