Detection Of Specific Antibodies Via Biochip In Children With Viral Encephalitis

Objective: Viral encephalitis is inflammation of the brain caused by a virus. The major risk is permanent brain damage. Many kinds of Viruses can cause encephalitis but the detective of etiology is difficulty. This study was conducted to detect specific antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) via Biochip technique in children with viral encephalitis and to study the differences in clinical presentation between RNA and DNA viral encephalitis.Methods: Specific antibodies to twenty viruses with a tropism for neurons were detected via Biochip technique in CSF specimens from 75 confirmed viral encephalitis patients. Based on the samples and methods, all cases were divided into three groups: Specific IgG was determined in 10-fold CSF dilutions of 12 patients according to the protocol in group A. Specific IgG in 35 CSF and specific IgM in 12 samples were assayed in group B. Specific IgG in CSF and specific IgM in 10-fold sera dilutions of 16 patients were measured in group C.RESULTS: All samples in group A showed negative results. Twenty-nine of 35 cases in group B presented positive rates, in which 20 samples tested positive for one specific antibody, 4 for two specific antibodies, and 5 for more than three specific antibodies. Detection of specific IgM in CSF, 11 of 12 specimens were negative in group B. Fifteen sera in group C demonstrated positive results, in which 12 samples tested positive for one specific antibody, 2 for two specific antibodies, and 1 for more than three specific antibodies, while thirteen CSF revealed positive results with 8 samples tested positive for one specific antibody, 3 for two specific antibodies, and 2 for more than three specific antibodies. Specific IgG was detected in 51 cases (positive rate 82.35%), 15 of 51 infected with RNA virus and 13 with DNA virus.