Step 1: Understand the purpose of virus detection methods.
Detection of animal viruses typically involves techniques that identify the virus itself (via its genetic material or proteins) or the body’s immune response to it.
Step 2: Analyze each method.
Serology: Involves detecting antibodies or antigens in the blood. It is a widely used technique for virus detection, including ELISA and Western blot assays.
Nucleic acid hybridization: Involves detecting viral RNA or DNA using complementary probes. Techniques like PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) are based on this principle and are commonly used in virology.
Hemagglutination: Some viruses (like influenza) can cause agglutination (clumping) of red blood cells, which is used in assays to detect viral presence.
Hematology: This is the study of blood and its components (e.g., red and white cells, platelets), mainly used to diagnose blood disorders, not directly to detect viruses.
Step 3: Conclusion.
Hematology is not a direct method for detecting viruses in animals, unlike the other three.