Introducing Novel Diagnostic Method for Detecting Natural-Only Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Infections: Current Challenges and Future Prospects in Latvia

  • Freimane, Z. (Speaker)
  • Gerhard Dobler (Co-author)
  • Sanita Kuzmane (Co-author)
  • Lāsma Englande (Co-author)
  • Zavadska, D. (Co-author)

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Description

To evaluate newly established diagnostic method in Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) diagnostics (NS1 ELISA), that detects antibodies against the TBE virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1), which is exclusively indicative for virus replication in natural infection.. Study population includes patients with acute and confirmed TBE diagnosis of seasons 2020-2021 in Latvia. Written informed consent was obtained for all participants prior to enrolment. Further serum sample was tested with traditional ELISA TBE-specific IgM and IgG antibodies in the serum and with newly developed NS1 ELISA. This method detects TBE-specific NS1 IgG antibodies based on TBE virus European subtype. . Total of 129 patients with acute TBE were included in the study. Serological testing by traditional ELISA confirmed TBE-specific IgM antibodies in the serum in 126 patients (98.4%) and IgG antibodies in 123 patients (96.1%). Detection of TBE-specific NS1 IgG antibodies by NS1 ELISA was observed in 10 (7.8%) of acute TBE patients. Median time of testing – 7 days since onset of TBE neurological symptoms. Negative NS1 ELISA results were observed more frequently in eastern part of Latvia, where also TBE virus Siberian and Far-Eastern subtype circulate – 67% versus 48% in western part. . Published results clearly show that detection of TBE-specific NS1 antibodies is proved as highly sensitive and specific tool for diagnosing TBEV infections. Moreover, it is not affected by TBE vaccination. Although NS1 ELISA sensitivity in TBE patients in Latvia was low, future investigations will be done to address issues on possible test limitations - other subtype discrimination that also circulate in Latvia and too early tested samples.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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