Clinical Application of the Hemagglutination-Inhibition Test for West Nile Virus Antibodies

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Abstract
Hemagglutination-inhibiting (HAI) antibodies were titered and compared with complement-fixing and neutralizing antibodies in 26 patients before and at weekly intervals after induced infections with West Nile (Egypt 101) virus. The HAI technique was more sensitive than the other methods for detecting presence and rising titers of antibody. All patients had detectable antibody by day 14 after inoculation and many by day 7. Titers were usually maximal by day 21. Antibody persisted at least 6 months. The technique is practicable for diagnostic or survey work. Four patients had HAI antibodies before virus inoculation, probably due to previous contact with antigenically related viruses. Viremia occurred in 2 of these patients in spite of the preexisting antibody. Persistence of viremia and rapidity of serum antibody response were inversely related.