Detection of serum antibody responses to RIT 4237 rotavirus vaccine by ELISA and neutralization assays.

Immunoglobulin class-specific determination by ELISA and a virus neutralization test (NT) were compared for the detection of the serum antibody responses after vaccination of infants with the RIT 4237 rotavirus vaccine (of bovine origin). A capture method was applied for specific IgM determination by ELISA because of its greater sensitivity and reproducibility over the conventional ELISA-IgM test. NT was improved through the use of an enzyme-labelled antibody for the detection of non-neutralized virus. In 6-12-month-old children, the most sensitive single test to detect an antibody response was the ELISA-IgM capture method, but the combination of ELISA-IgM and IgG tests or ELISA-IgM and NT detected the highest seroconversion rate of 79%. In newborn infants high levels of maternal antibody made the ELISA-IgG test unsuitable. ELISA-IgM gave a response rate of 31%, but NT with homologous virus was the most sensitive indicator of a serological response to the vaccine in this age group, yielding a 45% response rate.