A comparison of four methods for the detection of turkey haemorrhagic enteritis virus and antigen in experimentally infected turkeys.

Four tests (agar gel immunodiffusion, electron microscopy, direct immunoperoxidase staining and direct immunofluorescence) were compared for the detection of turkey haemorrhagic enteritis virus or antigen in spleen and faeces samples. Direct immunoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining of spleen impression smears detected virus antigen when electron microscopy and agar gel immunodiffusion were negative. These two direct staining techniques provide rapid and inexpensive alternative diagnostic tests for turkey haemorrhagic enteritis virus infection.