The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique was modified to enable rapid identification of arboviruses isolated by inoculation of newborn mice. Red Oil O was added to the brain suspension, which was purified by chromatography in agarose gel filtration. The viral antigen thus obtained was used to coat polystyrene microtitration plates and was tested against a battery of hyperimmune ascitic fluids used at their optimal dilution. The reaction was carried out by adding sheep IgG labelled with horseradish peroxidase and orthotolidine chromoqenic substrate. The sensitivity and specificity of the method were tested with different arboviruses.
This technique is rapid and identification is carrried out in less than 4 h; it has a sensitivity threshold of 10 3,5 LD50 and is simple and economical to use.