Hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody in hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

Hemagglutination activity was demonstrated in a Hantaan virus antigen prepared from infected suckling mouse brain by sucrose-acetone extraction. Hemagglutination of goose erythrocytes was pH dependent and was optimal at pH 6.0-6.2. Immunofluorescent and hemagglutination-inhibiting antibodies were significantly correlated in 80 human and 13 animal sera. Hemagglutination-inhibiting antibody was present in some patients 20 years after the onset of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. The hemagglutination inhibition test was useful for confirming that an insectivore, Suncus murinus, may be an animal reservoir host of a Hantaan-like virus.