Indirect ELISA based on Hendra and Nipah virus proteins for the detection of henipavirus specific antibodies in pigs.
Authors: Fischer Kerstin, Diederich Sandra, Smith Greg, Reiche Sven, Pinho Dos Reis Vinicius, Stroh Eileen, Groschup Martin H, Weingartl Hana M, Balkema-Buschmann Anne
Journal: PloS one
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Henipavirus Detection in Pigs Hendra and Nipah viruses present significant biosecurity concerns for equine and livestock industries, particularly given their presence in Australian horses and documented pig infections in Malaysia, yet reliable serological screening tools for porcine populations remain limited. Researchers developed indirect ELISAs using recombinant Hendra and Nipah virus proteins (truncated G attachment proteins and full-length nucleocapsid protein) expressed through different systems to detect virus-specific antibodies in pig serum samples. The nucleocapsid-based assay proved effective for initial screening of henipavirus exposure generally, whilst the G protein ELISAs successfully differentiated between Hendra and Nipah infections, with sera showing higher reactivity to homologous antigens—a critical distinction for identifying which virus a population has encountered. These validated assays now enable serosurveillance across affected regions and potentially other livestock species, providing equine professionals and other practitioners with epidemiological data to assess infection risk within their herds and communities. For practitioners in Australia and Southeast Asia particularly, these tools support evidence-based biosecurity planning and help map the true distribution of henipavirus exposure in domestic and wildlife populations, informing prevention strategies for both animal and human health.
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Practical Takeaways
- •These serological tools enable surveillance for henipavirus exposure in swine populations in at-risk regions, supporting early detection of zoonotic spillover events
- •The assays can differentiate between specific henipavirus species, allowing targeted investigation of exposure sources and epidemiological tracking
Key Findings
- •Recombinant HeV and NiV proteins were successfully expressed and used to develop ELISAs for detecting henipavirus-specific antibodies in pigs
- •NiV nucleocapsid protein ELISA enabled general henipavirus screening with broad reactivity
- •G protein-based ELISAs differentiated between HeV and NiV infections through homologous antigen preference