Evaluation on application of immunochromatographic assay in plague surveillance

Objective To evaluate the effectiveness,pros and cons of immunochromatogragphic assay(ICA)in plague surveillance,and to study the effects of mercuric chloride treatment for 1 minute and heat inactivation at 56℃ for 30 minutes on detect ion of antibody against Yersinia pestis F1 antigen in serum.Methods In 2006,organs and serum samples from rats and cases were obtained during the plague surveillance in Longlin and Xilin counties.ICA was used to detect F1 antigen of Yersinia pestis in rat or gans and F1 antibody in sera.Results A total of 120 rat liver and 99 spleen samples were tested negative for Yersinia pestis F1 antigen;all 235 rat serum samples were negative for F1 antibody.Two(7.41%)of the 27 plague cases were positive for F1 antibody after heat inactivation of sera,but none was positive after mercuric chloride treatment.Conclusion Mercuric chlor ide inhibits the detection of Yersinia pestis F1 antibody.ICA is highly specific and sensitive,rapid and easy to perform therefore it is of epidemiologic importance in plague surveillance.