The application of latex agglutination test for the detection of bovine rotaviruses in diarrhoeic fecal samples and its comparison with ELISA and RNA-PAGE

One hundred five diarrhoeic faecal samples of cow and buffalo calves below one month of age collected from various dairy farms of Haryana were tested by Latex Agglutination Test (LAT) for the presence of rotaviruses and the results of LAT were compared with Polyclonal Antibody ELISA (PAb-ELlSA) and RNA-Poly Acrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (RNA-PAGE) tests. Out of 105 faecal samples 27 (25.71%) were detected positive each by LAT and PAb-ELISA and 25 (23.80%) by RNA-PAGE. The results from LAT when compared with PAb-ELISA the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy were 81.48%, 93.58%, and 90.47% respectively. Likewise LAT when compared with RNA-PAGE 88% sensitivity, 93.75% specificity and 92.38% diagnostic accuracy was observed. These results indicated that though LAT was slightly less sensitive and specific than PAb-ELISA and RNA-PAGE, but it was easy to perform, rapid, cost effective and reagents had longer shelf life, which makes this assay more suitable for use in clinical laboratory and in field conditions.