Detection of neutralizing antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus in the cerebrospinal fluid using a rapid microneutralization test

Abstract

This paper describes the use of a rapid microneutralization test (MNT) for the detection of neutralizing (Nt) antibodies to Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of Japanese encephalitis (JE) patients. In parallel, JEV specific IgM antibodies were measured using an IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (MACELISA). Nt antibodies were detected in the CSF of 156 out of 253 clinically suspected cases of JE and there was a good correlation of the results with the MACELISA. Nt antibodies were detected as early as the first day of illness. Correlation of findings with the final clinical outcome revealed that high levels of Nt antibodies (titre of ≥80) were associated with a favourable outcome. MNT using CSF proved to be a rapid, reliable diagnostic test for JE.