Methods for detecting antimeasles, mumps, and rubella virus antibodies

Measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) virus infections are common during childhood throughout the world. Measles and mumps viruses belong to the Paramyxoviridae family with an RNA genome of negative polarity and a simrlar overall viral structure at the molecular level (1,2). Rubella virus is a member of the Togaviridae family containing a positive-stranded RNA genome encoding both nonstructural and structural viral proteins (3). Schematic representations of the MMR viruses, their genome structures and structural proteins are shown in Fig. 1. Measles virus infection is characterized by a generalized exanthema, fever, and occasionally also central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. Measles virus is highly contagious and causes high morbidity. Typically mumps virus causes parotitis, but occasionally complications, such as, meningitis (encephalitis), orchitis, pancreatitis, and some other more rare symptoms, are seen. The symptoms of rubella virus infections are usually very mild with generalized maculopapular rash and low fever. Often the infection goes unrecognized. A special danger associated with rubella virus infections is its ability to cause fetal infection and subsequently severe birth defects known as congenital rubella syndrome.