title: Diagnostic Methods for CHIKV Based on Serological Tools.
abstract: This chapter presents the most commonly used serological methods for the diagnosis of Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection in humans. CHIKV is a mosquito-borne Alphavirus widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa, Asia, and America. CHIKV infection in human causes acute febrile illness frequently accompanied by severe joint pain. Most of the infected patients may develop chronic arthralgia that may persist for several months or years. Laboratory diagnosis of CHIKV infection is mainly based on molecular and serological tests. The serological tests represent a valuable tool for diagnosis and epidemiological studies. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) are simple, rapid, and sensitive techniques widely used for the diagnosis of CHIKV infection. However, these methods represent a screening tool and often require confirmation by a second-line assays. Serum virus neutralization assay is more specific than ELISA and IFA tests and is considered a confirmatory test. Neutralization assay is employed to determine the titer of virus neutralizing antibodies against CHIKV in patients' sera. The basis of microneutralization assay (MNA), results interpretation, and procedures will be illustrated in this chapter.
authors.affiliation: Regional Reference Centre for Microbiological Emergencies (CRREM), Unit of Microbiology, S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9-40138, Bologna, Italy. paolo.gaibani@unibo.it.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaibani
authors.affiliation: DIMES, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.|Unit of Microbiology, RegionalReference Centre for MicrobiologicalEmergencies (CRREM), S. Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, Via G. Massarenti 9-40138, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Poala
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Landini
authors.affiliation: Unit of Microbiology, The Greater Romagna Area Hub Laboratory, Pievesestina, Italy.|DIMES, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sambri
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing / Q000097:blood; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D065632:Chikungunya Fever / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D002646:Chikungunya virus / Q000276:immunology*; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D006801:Humans; D009500:Neutralization Tests / Q000379:methods*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014709:Vero Cells
chemical_list: D057134:Antibodies, Neutralizing; D000914:Antibodies, Viral
keywords: Chikungunya virus; ELISA; IFA; Microneutralization; Serological methods