Detection of mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibodies by capture ELISA

We developed an IgE-capture ELISA and measured mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibodies in 27 children sensitive to mosquito bites. Children with large 15-min bite wheals had significantly higher ( P < 0.0005) mosquito saliva-specific IgE levels than children with small wheals. In the latter group, the saliva-specific IgE level was significantly higher ( P =0.031) than the levels of six infants never exposed to mosquitoes. A positive correlation ( r =0.65; P =0.0002) was found between the size of the 15-min wheal and the mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibody levels. These results further support the role of mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibodies in the pathogenesis of mosquito-bite whealing. Compared to immunoblotting, IgE-capture ELISA provides a quantitative method to measure mosquito saliva-specific IgE antibodies.