Rapid diagnosis of human Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever and detection of the virus in naturally infected ticks.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed to detect Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) virus-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) in human serum samples. For this test, a heat-inactivated antigen was prepared from the brains of suckling mice infected with CCHF virus. The IgM-capture ELISA proved more sensitive than indirect fluorescence tests for IgM to this virus. A human serum containing high-titer IgM to CCHF virus was used for an antigen-capture ELISA to detect this virus in heat-inactivated suspensions of virus-infected ticks. The antigen-capture ELISA appeared to be as sensitive as virus isolation in suckling mice. The studies described suggest that the IgM-capture ELISA and the antigen-detection ELISA should provide a rapid and sensitive diagnosis of human CCHF virus infection and should be useful in ecologic studies of this virus.
D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D002043:Bunyaviridae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003168:Complement Fixation Tests; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D003225:Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006479:Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D013987:Ticks / Q000382:microbiology*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007075:Immunoglobulin M