Immunoglobulins to tick-borne encephalitis in the cerebrospinal fluid of man.

Antibodies of IgM and IgG type were detected in the CSF of patients with recent tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) by means of ELISA. No false-positive results were obtained with CSF specimens from patients suffering from meningitis or other illnesses. The ratio of the antibodies in serum to CSF clearly indicated that both IgM and IgG antibodies were produced in the brain itself. In patients who had previously suffered from TBE now with a different inaseptic meningitis, TBE antibodies could also be detected in CSF but only of the IgG class. Again the serum-to-CSF antibody ratio indicated that the antibodies were produced within the central nervous system. For routine diagnosis the micro-ELISA method was found to be useful; antigen-coated plates can be stored as long as three months at +4 degrees C.