ASPECTS ON THE SERODIAGNOSIS OF ENTEROVIRUS INFECTIONS BY ELISA

The serodiagnosis of enterovirus infections with ELISA was approached with antigens of nine serotypes. Antigens were prepared by differential centrifugation and heated at 56°C. Capture assays were used for IgG and IgM and in addition an indirect technique was used for IgG antibody determinations. The antigens were conjugated with peroxidase for use in capture assays. A panel of acute and convalescent sera from 101 patients with culture-confirmed infections with one of echovirus 4, 6, 9, 11, 18, 30, coxsackie A9, B3, 4, 5 or enterovirus 71 was used for evaluation. The best results for indirect IgG were obtained with a combination of echovirus 9, 30 and coxsackie B5 (with a significant rise in 66 patients-65%). The capture IgG was less sensitive. In IgM tests echovirus 6 and coxsackievirus A9 performed best with a positive reaction in 76 patients (75%). A combination of the IgG and IgM assay demonstrated markers for current enterovirus infection in 89 patients. The appearance of enteroviral IgM was usually transient but was found to persist for 12 months in occasional patients. The prevalence of enteroviral IgM in a "normal" adult population was low (3% sera from pregnant women). These types of assays have a potential as easy, rapid tools for enteroviral diagnosis. © 1990.