DOT-BLOT ASSAY FOR LABORATORY DIAGNOSIS O F HEMORRHAGIC-FEVER WITH THE RENAL SYNDROME

A sensitive micro EIA utilizing antigen or antibody dotted onto nitroc ellulose filters (Dot-ELISA, Dot-blot) has been developed for laborato ry diagnosis of hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome (HFRS) by de tecting the virus specific IgM and IgG in the sera of HFRS patients an d the antigen in crude lung suspensions of wild rodents. Measurements of specific IgM and IgG in paired HFRS sera collected during the first month of the disease showed clear-cut seroconversion and 100% correla tion with the results of immunofluorescent test. The results of antige n detection in lung suspensions of 605 wild rodents trapped in various regions of Russia were identical to standard ELISA results. This rapi d and inexpensive test may be useful in early serologic diagnosis of H FRS and in field serological and epizootological studies.