BACKGROUND: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a pathogenic human flavivirus endemic in some parts of Europe and Asia. Commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for the detection of IgG antibodies are often used in TBEV-seroprevalence studies, as well as for the confirmation of a successful vaccination against TBEV. However, the detection of TBEV-specific antibodies can be biased by the cross-reactivity between different flavivirus genera. OBJECTIVES: To compare different EIA test systems for the detection of TBEV-IgG antibodies. STUDY DESIGN: Six commercial EIA kits for the detection of TBEV-specific antibodies are compared, using serum panels (n=139) of subjects with a documented clinical history (109 sera from TBEV infected patients, 30 sera from people vaccinated against TBEV). For the analysis of possible cross-reactivities, 24 sera from yellow fever vaccinated people and 13 sera positive for Dengue virus-specific antibodies were also included. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the different TBEV test systems ranges from 73 to 99%. However, when testing the yellow fever and Dengue virus positive specimens, problems with the flavivirus cross- reactivity become obvious, resulting in specificities between 14 and 81%. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the necessity of further improvement of the existing TBEV test systems regarding both sensitivity and specificity.
BACKGROUND: Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a pathogenic human flavivirus endemic in some parts of Europe and Asia. Commercial enzyme immunoassays (EIA) for the detection of IgG antibodies are often used in TBEV-seroprevalence studies, as well as for the confirmation of a successful vaccination against TBEV. However, the detection of TBEV-specific antibodies can be biased by the cross-reactivity between different flavivirus genera. OBJECTIVES: To compare different EIA test systems for the detection of TBEV-IgG antibodies. STUDY DESIGN: Six commercial EIA kits for the detection of TBEV-specific antibodies are compared, using serum panels (n=139) of subjects with a documented clinical history (109 sera from TBEV infectedpatients, 30 sera from people vaccinated against TBEV). For the analysis of possible cross-reactivities, 24 sera from yellow fever vaccinated people and 13 sera positive for Dengue virus-specific antibodies were also included. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the different TBEV test systems ranges from 73 to 99%. However, when testing the yellow fever and Dengue virus positive specimens, problems with the flavivirus cross- reactivity become obvious, resulting in specificities between 14 and 81%. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows the necessity of further improvement of the existing TBEV test systems regarding both sensitivity and specificity.
Authors: Benjamin J Briggs; Barry Atkinson; Donna M Czechowski; Peter A Larsen; Heather N Meeks; Juan P Carrera; Ryan M Duplechin; Roger Hewson; Asankadyr T Junushov; Olga N Gavrilova; Irena Breininger; Carleton J Phillips; Robert J Baker; John Hay Journal: Emerg Infect Dis Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 6.883
Authors: Katherine E S Lindhe; Danny S Meldgaard; Per M Jensen; Geoffrey A Houser; Mette Berendt Journal: Acta Vet Scand Date: 2009-12-29 Impact factor: 1.695