Rapid Detection of Getah Virus Antibodies in Horses Using a Recombinant E2 Protein-Based Immunochromatographic Strip.
Authors: Zhong Dengke, Zheng Jiayang, Ma Zhiyong, Wang Yan, Wei Jianchao
Journal: Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
Summary
# Getah Virus Detection in Horses: A Rapid Immunochromatographic Approach Getah virus poses a significant threat to equine populations across Asia, causing painful oral ulceration and gingivitis that impairs feeding behaviour and performance. Researchers developed a point-of-care immunochromatographic strip (ICS) using recombinant E2 glycoprotein expressed in *Escherichia coli*, optimising the colloidal gold-based platform to detect anti-GETV antibodies in equine serum with minimal equipment or technical expertise required. The resulting test demonstrated impressive analytical performance: a detection sensitivity extending to 1:320 serum dilution, complete specificity with no cross-reactivity against six other equine pathogens (EAV, EHV-1, EIAV, EIV, AHSV, and JEV), and 94.0% concordance with the gold-standard virus neutralisation test across 182 clinical samples. For practitioners working in endemic regions—particularly Asia—this rapid lateral-flow assay offers a genuinely field-deployable alternative to traditional serology, enabling faster decision-making for individual cases and herd health monitoring without dependency on laboratory infrastructure or specialised training. The method's accessibility and turnaround time could substantially improve disease surveillance and clinical management where Getah virus circulation is a concern.
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Practical Takeaways
- •A new rapid point-of-care test for GETV antibodies is now available, enabling faster diagnosis of this economically significant equine disease in the field without laboratory equipment
- •The test shows strong agreement (94%) with gold-standard virus neutralization testing, making it reliable for clinical decision-making regarding GETV status
- •Given GETV's ability to cause painful oral lesions affecting appetite and chewing, rapid diagnosis can facilitate early management and prevent secondary complications in affected horses
Key Findings
- •The recombinant E2 protein-based immunochromatographic strip achieved a detection limit of 1:320 dilutions for GETV-positive serum
- •The strip showed 94.0% concordance rate with virus neutralization test across 182 clinical serum samples
- •No cross-reactivity was observed with six other equine-susceptible pathogens (EAV, EHV-1, EIAV, EIV, AHSV, JEV)
- •The ICS method provides rapid, field-applicable diagnosis without requiring specialized equipment or extensive operator experience