Medical expert of the article
New publications
Parainfluenza: antibodies to parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, 3 and 4 in blood
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
There are four known types of parainfluenza viruses (1, 2, 3, 4), they are classified as RNA viruses. The virus is released into the environment during the first week of the disease. Detection of parainfluenza virus in nasopharyngeal discharge is performed using the immunofluorescence method. To detect specific antibodies to viruses in the blood serum, RSK or ELISA are used.
In the case of RSC, the study is conducted at the onset of the disease and after 5-7 days; an increase in the antibody titer by at least 4 times when examining paired sera is considered diagnostic. However, even with such antibody dynamics, the results of the study should be assessed with great caution, since parainfluenza and mumps viruses have an antigenic relationship, so a 4-fold or more increase in the antibody titer to parainfluenza viruses is possible in individuals who have recently suffered viral mumps.
Compared with the CSC, the ELISA method (allows for detection of IgM and IgG antibodies) is more sensitive (according to different authors, from 49% to 94%). However, as with the CSC, for diagnostic purposes, ELISA requires comparison of antibody titers in serum samples obtained from patients at the beginning and end of the disease. This is due to the fact that even a separate determination of an increased IgM antibody titer does not allow for unambiguous confirmation of the etiological diagnosis due to the heterophilicity of this group of antibodies (they give a cross-reaction with the antigen of other viruses).
Determination of antibodies to parainfluenza virus types 1, 2, 3 and 4 is used to diagnose acute respiratory viral infections, assess the intensity of post-vaccination immunity, and diagnose parainfluenza.
[