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Comparative Study
. 2006 Feb;12(2):310-3.
doi: 10.3201/eid1202.050812.

Evaluation of a direct, rapid immunohistochemical test for rabies diagnosis

Tiziana Lembo  1 , Michael Niezgoda, Andrés Velasco-Villa, Sarah Cleaveland, Eblate Ernest, Charles E Rupprecht
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Evaluation of a direct, rapid immunohistochemical test for rabies diagnosis

Tiziana Lembo et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2006 Feb.

Abstract

A direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) was evaluated under field and laboratory conditions to detect rabies virus antigen in frozen and glycerol-preserved field brain samples from northwestern Tanzania. Compared to the direct fluorescent antibody test, the traditional standard in rabies diagnosis, the dRIT was 100% sensitive and specific.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Touch impression of a rabies-positive Tanzanian domestic dog brain preserved in 50% glycerol saline solution for 15 months before testing by direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT) and retested by direct fluorescent-antibody assay (DFA) after 5 months. A) Brain stained by dRIT: rabies virus antigen appears as magenta inclusions (arrowheads) against the blue neuronal hematoxylin counterstain. Magnification, ×630. B) Immunofluorescent apple-green viral inclusions in the same brain processed by DFA. Magnification, ×200.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Touch impression of a deteriorated glycerolated brain from a Tanzanian spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) with rabies. A) Brain processed by direct rapid immunohistochemical test (dRIT). Magnification, ×400. B) DFA staining procedure on the same brain. Magnification, ×200.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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