Applying mac-elisa for etiological surveillance of Japanese encephalitis, West Nile and Nam Dinh viruses cause acute encephalitis syndrome, 2003-2004

ABSTRACT

During 2003 - 2004, in total 976 sera and cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with acute encephalitis syndrome (AES) were collected from Pediatric Hospital, several Centers of Preventive Medicine and National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Tay Nguyen for screening viral pathogens cause AES using MAC-ELISA with Japanese encephalitis (JE), West Nile and Nam Dinh virus antigens. Results: Out of 976 sera and cerebrospinal fluid samples of AES patients were screened using JE virus antigen, 46.1% (454/976) cases were confirmed to be JE virus infection. Out of 239 cerebrospinal fluid samples of AES patients were screened by Nam Dinh virus antigen, 13.4% (32/239) cases were confirmed to be Nam Dinh virus infection. Out of 103 sera and cerebrospinal fluid samples of AES patients were screened by West Nile virus antigen, there were no positive result was confirmed with this antigen. To date, JE virus is leading cause of AES in Vietnam, with over 80% cases in children under 15 years old. It should be intensive JE vaccination for all children under 15 years old in order to control JE soon.