Rubella virus IgM µ-capture ELISA

Rubella is an enveloped RNA virus belonging to the togaviruses. It has a spherical shape measuring about 50-70 nm in diameter. There appears to be only one antigenic type, and no cross-reactivity with alphaviruses or other members of the togavirus group has been found. Rubella viruses are pathogens of the respiratory tract and transmitted mainly by droplet infection. Rubella is a worldwide common contagious disease with mild constitutional symptoms and a generalized rush. In childhood, it is an inconsequential illness, but when it occurs during pregnancy, there is a significant risk of severe damage to the fetus. The risk of congenital rubella depends primarily on the month of pregnancy in which infection is acquired: overall, app. 16% of infants have major defects at birth following maternal rubella in the first 3 months of pregnancy. Congenital rubella infection may lead to a syndrome with single or multiple organ involvements, known as embryopathia rubeolosa. In some cases infection is inapparent but results in consequential damages as eye defects, deafness, growth retardation, and others. Naturally acquired immunity usually is long-lasting, but reinfection is possible due to decreasing levels of circulating antibodies. For immunization a vaccine containing live virus is used. Infection may be identified by

• Detection of virus by PCR (prenatal)
• Hemagglutination inhibition (HAI), Haemolysis-in-gel test (HiG)
• Detection of antibodies by EIA, ELISA. Measurement of antibodies in the serum is important for the determination of the immune status. Even a previous infection though rather overt may not yield a long-lasting immunity, but may result in an antibody titer too low to prevent reinfection. Especially the screening of adolescents and young women should be a mandatory routine in prenatal care.

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