Detection of avian encephalomyelitis viral antigen with a monoclonal antibody

A monoclonal antibody (MAb), designated VR9-1, prepared against avian encephalomyelitis virus (AEV) reacted with the embryo-adapted strain, Van Roekel, two vaccine and two field strains in indirect immunofluorescent and immunoperox-idase staining of frozen sections of chicken brain, chicken embryo fibroblast and brain cells inoculated with each virus. The MAb was also used as a detector in avidin-biotin-peroxidase staining in paraffin sections where results indicate that it recognized a common epitope among strains of AEV and may be useful for detection and quantitative studies.