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Published on: December 15, 2011
Specific IgA antibody response in Ross River virus infection
I W Carter1, J R Fraser, M J Cloonan
1Department of Microbiology, Prince Henry Hospital, Little Bay, NSW.
Immunology and Cell Biology
|December 1, 1987
Summary
Ross River virus IgA antibodies appear early in infection but are short-lived. Detecting high levels of these antibodies can help distinguish recent Ross River virus infections from past ones.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Ross River virus (RRV) is a significant cause of arboviral disease in Australia.
- Accurate diagnosis is crucial for patient management and understanding disease transmission.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibodies in diagnosing recent versus past Ross River virus infections.
- To compare the kinetics of IgA and IgM antibody responses to RRV.
Main Methods:
- Sera from 77 RRV-infected patients were collected over several years.
- An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using antibody class capture was employed to detect virus-specific IgA antibodies.
- IgA and IgM antibody responses were analyzed in relation to symptom onset.
Main Results:
- Out of 704 sera tested, 245 (34.8%) were positive for RRV-specific IgA antibodies.
- IgA antibodies were detected in all patients soon after symptom onset.
- The IgA response was found to be relatively short-lived compared to the specific IgM response.
Conclusions:
- Ross River virus IgA antibody detection is a valuable tool for differentiating recent from past infections.
- This method is particularly useful in cases where IgM antibodies persist, potentially complicating diagnosis.
- The short-lived nature of the IgA response aids in temporal assessment of RRV infection.
