Evaluation of an IgG enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for dengue diagnosis.
BACKGROUND
The hemagglutination inhibition (HI) test has been one of the standards, with the IgM antibody capture ELISA (MAC-ELISA), for the diagnosis of dengue virus infections. The spread of dengue throughout the world and the increasing number of cases to be tested makes an ELISA-format test for IgG antibodies to replace the HI test highly desirable.


OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the use of the IgG-ELISA as a substitute for the HI test in dengue diagnosis.


METHODS
Paired serum samples defined as being from primary or secondary dengue virus infections by HI, were tested by an ELISA that detects IgG antibodies. The correlations of titers and serologic interpretations between these two tests were examined.


RESULTS
The IgG-ELISA showed a low correlation with the HI in primary infections, and a higher correlation in secondary infections because of the influence of IgM antibodies in the HI test. Nevertheless, IgG ELISA titers could be reliably associated with primary or secondary infections when analyzed by days after onset of symptoms, and can be used to characterize the immune response after flavivirus infections.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of the IgM and IgG ELISAs may be used to serologically diagnose dengue virus infections, since the IgG ELISA can substitute for the HI test in characterizing the immune response to dengue virus infections.
Miagostovich
M P
MP
Department of Virology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. marizepm@gene.dbbm.fiocruz.br
Nogueira
R M
RM
dos Santos
F B
FB
Schatzmayr
H G
HG
Araújo
E S
ES
Vorndam
V
V
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood*; D003715:Dengue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D003716:Dengue Virus / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006385:Hemagglutination Inhibition Tests; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M