Rapid detection of bovine viral diarrhea virus as surrogate of bioterrorism agents

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a major pathogen of cattle that is chosen as a model for select agents associated with agricultural bioterrorism, such as foot and mouth disease virus. Bovine viral diarrhea virus causes early embryonic death, abortion, respiratory problems, and immune system dysfunction in cattle throughout the world. Due to the insidious nature and economic loses from BVDV infections, a rapid diagnosis of BVDV becomes an important component to control and prevent the infections. In previous studies, a conductometric biosensor was developed and evaluated by the authors for bacterial pathogen detection. In this paper, the biosensor was adapted to detect BVDV in culture media and blood serum. The biosensor consisted of two parts: the immunosensor and the electronic data collection system. The biosensor used the method of lateral flow to enable the liquid sample to move from one region to another, through capillary action. The specificity of the biosensor depended on the unique binding characteristics of the polyclonal and/or monoclonal antibodies immobilized on the immunosensor. Polyaniline was used in the biosensor architecture as the transducer due to its electronic properties and bio-molecular properties. Preliminary results showed that the biosensor was sensitive at a concentration of 10³ cell culture infective dose per milliliter of BVDV antigens. With the development of the conductometric biosensor for BVDV detection, further adaptation could be made for detecting select agents of concern to homeland security.