Comparative sensitivity of RICA and MAC-ELISA for IGM antibody based early diagnosis of chikungunya virus infection in patients in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, India

Author(s): Sangamithra P.*, D. V.R.Sai Gopal

Abstract

Chikungunya (CHIK) is a viral fever that spreads in human population through mosquito bite that is infected with Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). CHIK resembles Dengue fever. Although there is no specific treatment or vaccine available currently, the confirmative rapid diagnosis is based on detection of viral nucleic acid or IgM antibodies in serum, an indication of recent infection, helps in epidemiological monitoring, symptomatic treatment of patients and determining prognosis. In the present study, with the approval of the Kadapa district medical and health officer, 238 blood samples were collected from Chikungunya infection suspected patients, residing in the Kadapa district villages of Andhra Pradesh. Serological detection of anti-CHIKV IgM antibodies was performed using rapid immuno-chromatographic assay (RICA) and IgM-antibody capture enzyme-linked immuno Sorbant assay (MAC-ELISA). Convalescent sera (n = 170) were tested by RICA and 108 of them were found positive for anti-CHIKV IgM antibodies. All 108 anti-CHIKV IgM antibody RICA positive sera were further assayed using MAC-ELISA to compare the sensitivity of both assays for the early diagnosis of disease. Only 45 sera samples gave positive result. The sensitivity of RICA and MAC-ELISA were found to be 100% and 42% respectively.

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