ABSTRACT
A coagglutinizing reagent has been designed, which makes it possible to make a rapid diagnosis of tick-borne encephalitis in the coagglutination test within 2-5 minutes. Laboratory tests of the agent have shown that the coagglutination test is sensitive and specific (it is many times more sensitive than indirect hemagglutination test and 2-4 times more sensitive than enzyme immunoassay). The trials conducted on natural and clinical materials also have confirmed the sensitivity and specificity of this method. The complex use of the coagglutination test and enzyme immunoassay to examine ticks whether they contain tick-borne encephalitis viral antigen allows their diagnostic effectiveness to be enhanced by 2.4 times. The clinical trial has indicated that the coagglutination test may be useful in detecting the antigen of tick-borne encephalitis virus in the blood of infected and sick patients in acute and chronic forms.
Subject(s)
Agglutination Tests/methods , Antigens, Viral/blood , Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/immunology , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/diagnosis , Animals , Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/isolation & purification , Encephalitis, Tick-Borne/blood , Humans , Sensitivity and Specificity , Ticks/virologyABSTRACT
The surface of polystyrene plates was studied at different stages of the enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and the passive hemagglutination (PHA) test by the method of scanning electron microscopy in the detection of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) virus antigen. The study revealed that in the process of EIA larger antigens were washed away from the plate surface. The objects detected on the polystyrene surface were identified as conglomerations of the virions of TBE virus, but whole virions were shown to play no decisive role in EIA. The conclusion was made that, due to some specific features of this method, EIA was more sensitive in reaction with small antigens (individual glycoproteids, their small complexes). And, respectively, the PHA test was more sensitive in reaction with large antigenic complexes (whole virions, their conglomerations, immune complexes).
Subject(s)
Antigens, Viral/blood , Encephalitis Viruses, Tick-Borne/immunology , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods , Hemagglutination Tests/methods , Microscopy, Electron, Scanning/methods , Antigens, Viral/ultrastructure , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/instrumentation , Hemagglutination Tests/instrumentation , Humans , Particle Size , Sensitivity and Specificity , Surface Properties , Virion/immunologyABSTRACT
The levels of hemagglutinating antibodies to measles, smallpox, influenza viruses and of complement-fixing antibody to lymphocytic choriomeningitis, Takaribe, Amapari viruses were studied, in the blood sera of 77 schizophrenics and 44 normal donors. The investigation revealed definite differences. The schizophrenic patients had a statistically significant elevation in the titres of anti-smallpox antibodies. A certain increase in levels of antibodies to the measles virus was observed. There were no considerable differences in titres of antibodies to arenaviruses and influenza virus. A relationship between antibody production, on the one hand, and the severity and course of the disease and also the age of those examined, on the other, was noted.
Subject(s)
Antibodies, Viral/analysis , Schizophrenia/immunology , Adolescent , Adult , Arenaviridae/immunology , Humans , Measles virus/immunology , Middle Aged , Orthomyxoviridae/immunology , Variola virus/immunologyABSTRACT
The sensitivity of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Tacaribe virus to several chemical reagents was investigated. The viruses were sensitive to lipid solvents (ether, chloroform) and to detergents (sodium desoxycholate and Triton X-100); they were rapidly inactivated by formalin, beta-propiolactone, hydrogen peroxide and chloramine B. The results obtained contribute to a more complete characterization of the biological features of the arenavirus group and may be useful for scientific research and manufacturing of viral preparations.
Subject(s)
Arenaviridae/drug effects , Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus/drug effects , Animals , Animals, Suckling , Arenaviridae/growth & development , Chloroform/pharmacology , Deoxycholic Acid/pharmacology , Detergents/pharmacology , Ether/pharmacology , Hydrogen Peroxide/pharmacology , Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus/growth & development , Mice , Octoxynol , Polyethylene Glycols/pharmacology , Propiolactone/pharmacology , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
A comparative study was performed as regards the behaviour of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV)--strains Fo-2 and 522--and of Tacaribe virus (strain Tr 11573) at different temperatures and pH values. All the three arenavirus strains had a high thermosensitivity and were rapidly inactivated in an acid medium. LCMV was more sensitive to UV irradiation than Tacaribe virus. The effect of sonication was also investigated.
