title: A simple and rapid immunochromatographic test kit for rabies diagnosis.
abstract: In rabies endemic countries, funds and infrastructure are often insufficient to employ the approved gold standard for the definitive diagnosis of rabies: the direct fluorescent test. In the present study, two types (type 1 and 2) of an ICT kit were evaluated for detection of rabies. These were developed using monoclonal antibodies which recognize epitope II and III of the nucleoprotein of rabies virus. Both kits specifically detected all rabies virus strains and there was no cross reactivity with Lyssaviruses (Lagos, Mokola and Duvenhage), Rhabdovirus (VSV and Oita 296/1972) and other common canine-pathogenic viruses. In type 1, a single type of monoclonal antibody was used. It was capable of detecting recombinant nucleoprotein and showed sensitivity of 95.5% (42/44) and specificity of 88.9% (32/36) using brain samples from rabid dogs. In contrast, type 2 which was made of two different monoclonal antibodies had a lower sensitivity of 93.2% (41/44) and higher specificity of 100% (36/36). These ICT kits provide a simple and rapid method for rabies detection. They need neither cold chain for transportation nor complicated training for personnel. This diagnostic test is suitable for rabies screening, particularly in areas with a high prevalence of rabies and where the fluorescent antibody test is not available.
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Oita University, Yufu-city, Oita, Japan. a24zono@med.oita-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nishizono
authors.forename: Pakamatz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Khawplod
authors.forename: Kamruddin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Kazuyo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiota
authors.forename: Kumato
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mifune
authors.forename: Takehito
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yasui
authors.forename: Katsuyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takayama
authors.forename: Yukuharu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mannen
authors.forename: Veera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tepsumethanon
authors.forename: Chanarong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mitmoonpitak
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Kinjiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Morimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques / Q000379:methods; D009698:Nucleoproteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D011818:Rabies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011820:Rabies virus / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D009698:Nucleoproteins; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic