Definition of three serotypes of Hantaviruses by a double sandwich ELISA with biotin-avidin amplification system.

A total of seven different isolates of Hantaviruses from five mammalian species and six geographical areas were examined by a double sandwich ELISA with biotin-avidin amplification system. Three serotypes were recognized by comparing antigen titres to homologous and heterologous antibody and blocking antibody titres to homologous and heterologous antigens. Serotype 1 included four strains: Hantaan virus isolated from Apodemus agrarius in South Korea, Hupei-I isolated from acute-phase serum from a patient with epidemic haemorrhagic fever (EHF) in China, SR-11 isolated from a laboratory rat associated with an EHF outbreak in Sapporo, Japan, and Tchoupitoulas isolated from a wharf rat (Rattus norvegicus) trapped in New Orleans, La., U.S.A. Serotype 2 included two strains of nephropathia epidemica virus, Hällnäs-I and Puumala, isolated from Clethrionomys glareolus trapped in nephropathia epidemica foci in Sweden and Finland, respectively. Serotype 3 included one strain, Prospect Hill-I, isolated from Microtus pennsylvanicus, trapped in Frederick, Md., U.S.A.