Detection of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus glycoprotein antigens (38.19)

Abstract

Abstract Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a viral infection caused by Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV), a tick-borne virus (Nairovirus) of Bunyaviridae. Viral antigens of CCHFV can be detected by using various immunologic methodologies. We developed two methodologies to detect viral antigens of CCHFV using polyclonal antibodies isolated either from human plasma or from hyperimmunized horse serum. The first methodology is a western blot using human polyclonal antibodies. The second one is an antigen ELISA using horse antibodies. CCHFV isolates from vero-cell cultures were used as a source of the antigens. Additionally, CCHFV isolates obtained from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of USA were used as positive controls. The human polyclonal antibody pool detected several glycoproteins of various sizes ranging from approximately 35 KDa to 80 KDa or higher indicating that humans can develop antibody responses to different epitopes of the viral glycoproteins. Also, the ELISA can be used successfully to detect CCHFV with quite reproducible results. Our results indicated that both antibody sources could be convenient for rapid detection of CCHFV glycoprotein antigens.