What is the gold standard test for diagnosing Senecavirus?

RT-PCR, or reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, is recognized as the gold standard for diagnosing Senecavirus, particularly because it enables the detection of viral RNA, which is crucial for confirming the presence of the virus. This method is highly sensitive and specific, allowing for the identification of even low levels of viral material, which is essential in an accurate diagnosis, especially in the early stage of infection when other tests may yield false negatives.

Serology, while useful in detecting antibodies generated as a response to viral infection, does not provide the same level of certainty in early diagnosis since antibodies may take time to develop. Similarly, ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and immunohistochemistry are also valuable diagnostic tools, primarily for detecting specific proteins or antibodies, but they are not as effective as RT-PCR when it comes to the direct and early detection of viral nucleic acids. Thus, RT-PCR's capacity to identify the virus directly makes it the preferred method for diagnosing Senecavirus.