Dengue NS1 and prM antibodies increase the sensitivity of acute dengue diagnosis test and differentiate from Japanese encephalitis infection

• Published in: Journal of immunological methods 2014-05, Vol.407, p.116-119
• Main Authors: Gowri Sankar, S., Balaji, T., Venkatasubramani, K., Thenmozhi, V., Dhananjeyan, K.J., Paramasivan, R., Tyagi, B.K., John Vennison, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antibodies, Viral - blood; Antigen detection; Cross Reactions; Cross reactivity; Dengue - diagnosis; Dengue - immunology; Dengue virus; Dengue virus (DENV); Dengue Virus - immunology; Diagnosis, Differential; Diagnostic Tests, Routine; Disease Progression; Early Diagnosis; Encephalitis, Japanese - diagnosis; Encephalitis, Japanese - immunology; Flavi virus detection; Flaviviridae; Flavivirus; Humans; India; Japanese encephalitis virus; Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV); Sensitivity and Specificity; Serological differentiation; Viral Nonstructural Proteins - immunology; Viral Proteins - immunology
• ISSN: 0022-1759; 1872-7905
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2014.03.028

Accurate and early diagnosis of dengue infection is essential for dengue case management. In outbreak conditions, it is essential to include two different tests to diagnose dengue and the choice depends on the number of days after the onset of illness in which the sample is collected. During the laboratory diagnosis of dengue in late acute and convalescent phase by MAC-ELISA, it is necessary to rule out possible cross reactions of closely related flavivirus, such as Japanese encephalitis virus which is commonly co-circulating. In the present investigation, the usefulness of dengue virus NS1 and prM antibodies in diagnosing and differentiating dengue from Japanese encephalitis infection was assessed using samples collected during out-breaks. It was shown here that, detection of antibodies against dengue NS1 and prM proteins increases the sensitivity of dengue diagnosis until 15days. Moreover, detection of antibodies against both proteins was able to differentiate dengue from Japanese encephalitis infection. •DENV and JEV co-circulating in endemic areas cross react in diagnosis by MAC-ELISA.•Combined detection of Abs against dengue prM and NS1 differentiate DENV from JEV.•Combined detection increases sensitivity of NS1 Ab detection test beyond acute phase.