Korean J Med.
1999 May;56(5):629-635.
Diagnosis of acute Hantaan virus infection by IgG avidity assay
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Institute of Emerging Infectious Disease.
- 3Department of Microbiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The golden standard of serodiagnosis of HFRS is IFA(indirect immunofluorescence
antibody test). However, positive IFA for IgG antibody does not always correlate with current
infection because IFA may be positive due to past exposure to Hantaan virus such as subclincal
infection or due to vaccination in endemic area. So supplementary diagnostic method is needed
to diagnosis of HFRS with more accuracy.
METHODS
In this study, the usefulness of IgG avidity assay with 8 mole/l urea in diagnosis of
HFRS was investigated. Serum samples from 45 patients with acute phase HFRS and 79 residents of
endemic area, who had HFRS antibody were tested for IgG avidity.
RESULTS
The distribution of IgG avidity index of HFRS antibody was different acute phase of
HFRS patients from endemic area residents(p<0.001). Patients with acute phase HFRS exhibited
lower avidity of Hantaan virus-specific IgG (mode of 64 of avidity index), in contrast endemic
area resident had a higher avidity (mode of 4 of avidity index).
CONCLUSION
The IgG avidity
assay should assist in the diagnosis of acute phase HFRS and may be used to identify recent
infection and past exposure to Hantaan virus.