This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Moe, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Jaykus, L.-A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Moe, C. L.
Right arrow Articles by Jaykus, L.-A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, November 2004, p. 1028-1034, Vol. 11, No. 6
1071-412X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.11.6.1028-1034.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Diagnosis of Norwalk Virus Infection by Indirect Enzyme Immunoassay Detection of Salivary Antibodies to Recombinant Norwalk Virus Antigen

Christine L. Moe,1* Arnie Sair,2 Lisa Lindesmith,3 Mary K. Estes,4 and Lee-Ann Jaykus2

Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia,1 Department of Food Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh,2 Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,3 Division of Molecular Virology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas4

Received 15 March 2004/ Returned for modification 12 May 2004/ Accepted 10 August 2004

Simple diagnostic tests are needed for the detection of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks. Salivary antibody assays provide an attractive alternative to collecting and testing serum or stool samples. Antibodies to Norwalk virus (NV) in oral fluid samples were compared with NV antibodies in serum collected from 38 volunteers challenged with NV inoculum. Pre- and postchallenge (day 4, 8, 14, and 21) saliva and serum samples were examined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) using recombinant NV antigen. Of 18 infected subjects (those who shed NV in stool or who demonstrated immunoglobulin G [IgG] seroconversion), 15 (83%) had ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgA and 15 (83%) had ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgG when prechallenge and postchallenge saliva samples were compared. When the results of the IgA and IgG assays were combined, all 18 infected subjects showed ≥4-fold increases in NV-specific salivary IgG or IgA postchallenge titers compared to their prechallenge titers. One of 19 uninfected subjects had a ≥4-fold increase in NV-specific salivary IgG. The sensitivity of the combined assay results was 100%, and the specificity was 95%. NV-specific salivary IgA titers peaked around 14 days postchallenge. NV-specific salivary IgG and serum IgG titers continued to rise through 21 days postchallenge. The application of this EIA to an elementary school outbreak indicated that 67% of the subjects with confirmed infections had >4-fold rises in anti-NoV IgA when an antigen in the same genetic cluster as the outbreak virus was used. This is the first documented mucosal antibody response to NoV in children. This EIA provides a useful approach for diagnosing NoV outbreaks.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of International Health, Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University, 1518 Clifton Rd. NE, Room 716, Atlanta, GA 30322. Phone: (404) 727-9257. Fax: (404) 727-4590. E-mail: clmoe{at}sph.emory.edu.

Clinical and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology, November 2004, p. 1028-1034, Vol. 11, No. 6
1071-412X/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/CDLI.11.6.1028-1034.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Kremer, J. R., Muller, C. P. (2005). Evaluation of Commercial Assay Detecting Specific Immunoglobulin G in Oral Fluid for Determining Measles Immunity in Vaccinees. CVI 12: 668-670 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»