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Test ID: EEEP Eastern Equine Encephalitis Antibody, IgG and IgM, Serum

Useful For

Aiding in the diagnosis of Eastern equine encephalitis using serum specimens

Method Name

Immunofluorescence Assay (IFA)

Reporting Name

East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG and IgM, S

Specimen Type

Serum


Specimen Required


Collection Container/Tube:

Preferred: Serum gel

Acceptable: Red top

Submission Container/Tube: Plastic vial

Specimen Volume: 0.5 mL

Collection Instructions: Centrifuge and aliquot serum into plastic vial.


Specimen Minimum Volume

0.15 mL

Specimen Stability Information

Specimen Type Temperature Time Special Container
Serum Refrigerated (preferred) 14 days
  Frozen  14 days

Clinical Information

Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) is within the alphavirus group. It is a low prevalence cause of human disease in the Eastern and Gulf Coast states. EEE is maintained by a cycle of mosquito/wild bird transmission, peaking in the summer and early fall, when humans may become an adventitious host. The most common clinically apparent manifestation is a mild undifferentiated febrile illness, usually with headache.

 

Central nervous system involvement is demonstrated in only a minority of infected individuals; it is more abrupt and more severe with EEE than other arboviruses, with children being more susceptible to severe disease. Fatality rates are approximately 70% for EEE.

Reference Values

IgG: <1:10

IgM: <1:10

Reference values apply to all ages.

Interpretation

In patients infected with this virus, IgG antibody is generally detectable within 1 to 3 weeks of onset, peaking within 1 to 2 months, and declining slowly thereafter.

 

IgM class antibody is also reliably detected within 1 to 3 weeks of onset, peaking and rapidly declining within 3 months.

 

Single serum specimen IgG greater than or equal to 1:10 indicates exposure to the virus.

 

Results from a single serum specimen can differentiate early (acute) infection from past infection with immunity if IgM is positive (suggests acute infection).

 

A 4-fold or greater rise in IgG antibody titer in acute and convalescent sera indicate recent infection.

 

In the United States it is unusual for any patient to show positive reactions to more than 1 of the arboviral antigens, although Western equine encephalitis and Eastern equine encephalitis antigens will show a noticeable cross-reactivity.

 

Infections can occur at any age. The age distribution depends on the degree of exposure to the particular transmitting arthropod relating to age and sex, as well as the occupational, vocational, and recreational habits of the individuals. Once humans have been infected, the severity of the host response may be influenced by age.

Clinical Reference

1. Gonzalez-Scarano F, Nathanson N: Bunyaviruses. In: Fields BN, Knipe DM, eds. Fields Virology. Vol 1. 2nd ed. Raven Press; 1990:1195-1228

2. Donat JF, Rhodes KH, Groover RV, Smith TF: Etiology and outcome in 42 children with acute nonbacterial meningoencephalitis. Mayo Clin Proc. 1980 Mar;55(3):156-160

3. Tsai TF: Arboviruses. In: Murray PR, Baron EJ, Pfaller MA, et al, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 7th ed. American Society for Microbiology; 1999:1107-1124

4. Calisher CH: Medically important arboviruses of the United States and Canada. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1994 Jan;7(1):89-116

5. Markoff L: Alphaviruses (Chikungunya, Eastern equine encephalitis). In: Bennett JE, Dolin R, Blaser MJ, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 9th ed. Elsevier; 2020:1997-2006

Day(s) Performed

May through October: Monday through Friday

November through April: Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Report Available

Same day/1 to 4 days

Test Classification

This test has been cleared, approved, or is exempt by the US Food and Drug Administration and is used per manufacturer's instructions. Performance characteristics were verified by Mayo Clinic in a manner consistent with CLIA requirements.

CPT Code Information

86652 x 2

LOINC Code Information

Test ID Test Order Name Order LOINC Value
EEEP East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG and IgM, S 69034-7

 

Result ID Test Result Name Result LOINC Value
83354 East Equine Enceph Ab, IgG, S In Process
83355 East Equine Enceph Ab, IgM, S In Process

Forms

If not ordering electronically, complete, print, and send Infectious Disease Serology Test Request (T916) with the specimen.

Testing Algorithm

For more information see Mosquito-borne Disease Laboratory Testing.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories | Microbiology and Infectious Disease Catalog Additional Information:

mml-mosquitoborne