Overview of diagnostic tools for Capripox virus infections

Abstract

Capripox viruses are the causative agents of important animal diseases in cattle (Lumpy Skin Disease), sheep(Sheeppox)andgoats(Goatpox)withseveresocio-economicimpactincaseofwidescaleoutbreaks.Thereforethere is aconstantneed foradequatediagnostic tools.Theassays mustbe fit-for-purpose toidentify thevirusquickly and correctly and to be useful for surveillance and monitoring at different stages of an epidemic.Differentdiagnosticperformancecharacteristicsarerequireddependingonthesituationandthetestpurpose.Theneedforhighthroughput,highspecificity/sensitivityandthecapabilityfordifferentiatingfieldvirusstrainsfrom vaccine strains drives the development of new and better assays preferably with an advantageous cost-benefitbalance.ThisreviewaimstolookatexistingandnewvirologicalandserologicaldiagnostictoolsusedinthecontrolagainstdiseasescausedbyCapripoxviruses