Detection of antibodies against SARS-associated coronavirus in patients with clinical fever

  Objective   To determine whether there exist the inapparent infection or subclinical infection of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus(SARS-CoV)among the patients with clinical fever.

  Methods   373 patients with clinical fever were selected during epidemic outbreak per iod of SARS from May to July 2003 in Hubei province.All the patients were received detection of specific SARS-CoVRNA and specific antibodies(IgG, IgM and anti-N protein antibody)by RT-PCR and ELISA respectively.

  Results   Specific antibodies against SARS-CoV(IgG, IgM and anti-Nprotein antibody) were positive in 24 patients.The total positive rate was 6.43% (24/373)and positive rate of IgG, IgMo ranti-N protein antibody was 0.54%, 1.34% and 5.09% respectively.However, the specific SARS-CoVRNA detected by RT-PCR assay was negative in the all patients.

  Conclusion   The inapparent infection or subclinical infection of SARS-CoV may be existed in patients with fever.The patients may have immunity and resistance against SARS-CoV, because the protective ant ibodies directed against SARS-CoV are produced in the patients.