Serology using rROP2 antigen in the diagnostic of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women

Toxoplasma gondii causes severe fetal disease during acute infection in pregnant women, thus demanding early diagnosis for effective treatment and fetus preservation. Fetal tests are inefficient and risky, and diagnosis is based on maternal IgM serology, which had weak screening ability due to increased sensitivity, with alternative IgG avidity tests. Here, we performed ELISA and avidity assays using a recombinant T. gondii antigen, rROP2, in samples from 160 pregnant women screened from a large public hospital who were referred due to positive IgM assays. IgG serology and avidity assays were compared using whole T. gondii extract or rROP2. ELISA IgG detection with rROP2 showed good agreement with assays performed with T. gondii extract, but rROP2 IgG avidity assays were unrelated to whole extract antigen IgG avidity, regardless of the chaotrope used. These data show that avidity maturation is specific to individual antigen prevalence and immune response during infection. ELISA rROP2 IgG assays may be an alternative serological test for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, although our data do not support their use in avidity assays.

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Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasmosis by Using ELISA and IgG Avidity Test in Relation to Some Risk Factors among Women at Childbearing Age in Zakho City, Duhok Province/ Iraq.

Al-Qadisiyah Journal Of Pure Science ◽

10.29350/qjps.2021.26.4.1331 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (4) ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Sarwin Sultan ◽

Wijdan M. S. Mero

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Maternity Hospital ◽

Married Women ◽

Childbearing Age ◽

Igg Avidity ◽

Avidity Test ◽

Hygienic Measures ◽

The Relationship

This study intended to evaluate the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG and IgM antibodies in the sera of 630 women at childbearing age, and to link the outcomes with some risk factors. The enrolled women visited Zakho Maternity Hospital from July 2018 to July 2019. Their ages ranged from 15 to 45 years. All samples were examined using ELISA to detect immunoglobulin G and M, in addition to performing IgG Avidity test for seropositive pregnant women. The differences between seropositivity and age was significant (p<0.05), the highest rate (20.43%) for anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies in the age group 33-38 years. Women who had more contact with cats showed higher IgG and IgM seropositivity rates (16.45% and 1.26%, respectively). Married women had higher IgG Abs seropositivity than single ones (12.52% vs 6.31%, respectively), moreover, only married women were seropositive for IgM Abs. Pregnant women presented higher IgG Abs seropositivity than non-pregnant (15.21% versus 10.49%), with almost equal seropositivity for IgM Abs (0.65% and 0.86%, respectively). Anti-Toxoplasma IgG Abs seropositivity was higher in women underwent miscarriages than those with normal pregnancies (18.44 vs. 8.81%), however IgM Abs was only found among women who had miscarriages (0.97%). Women with triple miscarriages presented the highest IgG Abs seropositivity (37.03%). Chronic infection was found in 68.75% of pregnant women, whereas acute infection was found in 31.25 %. Following up the pregnancy resulted in 15 healthy births, 9 miscarriages, and 10 women did not show up. The findings of this study demonstrate the relationship between toxoplasmosis and risk factors in women at childbearing age, with the aim of decreasing infection rates through the health education and application of hygienic measures.

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Screening for toxoplasmosis during pregnancy: One-year experience in an Italian reference laboratory

Scientia Medica ◽

10.15448/1980-6108.2010.1.6000 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

pp. 35 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Valeria Meroni ◽

Francesca Genco

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Congenital Toxoplasmosis ◽

Reference Laboratory ◽

Toxoplasma Infection ◽

Igg Avidity ◽

Acute Toxoplasmosis ◽

One Year ◽

First Time

AIMS: To describe the experience of the Toxoplasmosis Laboratory of Infectious Disease Department University of Pavia, IRCCS Foundation, San Matteo Polyclinic Pavia, a reference laboratory for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis, in the investigation of pregnant women with suspected acute toxoplasmosis. METHODS: All sera were tested with LIAISON® Toxo IgM and IgG II, Toxo IgG Avidity II kits (DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy), VIDAS Toxo IgG II and Toxo IgG Avidity (bioMérieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France ), IgM ISAGA (bioMérieux, Marcy l’Etoile, France) and ETI-TOXOK-A reverse PLUS (DiaSorin, Saluggia, Italy). When required (IgG negative/IgM positive women), IgG/IgM Western Blot II (LDBio, Lyon, France) was also performed. Prenatal diagnosis on amniotic fluid was done by nested PCR. All newborns were followed up to one year of age in order to exclude or confirm the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. All pregnant women with acute or undetermined stages of infection were treated. RESULTS: In the course of 2007, 236 women with suspected acute (IgM-positive) Toxoplasma infection were followed up. In the reference laboratory, 91 women had test results indicating acute toxoplasmosis, and 10 had undetermined status of infection. These 101 patients represented 42.8% of the 236 women referred. Acute toxoplasmosis could be excluded in the remaining 135 patients, of whom 53 were non-immune. Three infected newborns were observed, all from mothers tested for the first time during the third trimester of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The role of a reference laboratory in suspected toxoplasmosis acquired during pregnancy is crucial to date the infection and discriminate between seroconversion and false positive anti-Toxoplasma IgM antibodies. This avoids unnecessary anxiety in immune women, provides correct counseling about primary prevention and periodic testing for seronegative ones, and allows early treatment and follow-up of pregnant women with acute infection and their newborns.

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Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG avidity assay: Role and implication in the confirmatory diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis in seropositive pregnant women

Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Journal ◽

10.3329/bsmmuj.v9i2.29263 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 96

Author(s):

Chowdhury Rafia Naheen ◽

Shirin Tarafder ◽

Humayun Sattar ◽

Shafinaz Khan

Keyword(s):

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Acute Infection ◽

High Avidity ◽

Past Infection ◽

Congenital Transmission ◽

Avidity Assay ◽

Igg Avidity ◽

Avidity Test ◽

Specific Igg

This study was undertaken to apply Toxoplasma gondii specific IgG avidity test in seropositive pregnant women to differentiate acute and past infection. T. gondii specific IgG avidity test was conducted in 39 seropositive pregnant women and their pregnancy outcomes were observed later on. Out of 39 T. gondii seropositive pregnant women 33 (84%) were only IgG positive and 6 (15.4%) were both IgG-IgM positive. All the IgG positive cases (100%) and 2(33.3%) IgG-IgM positive cases had high avidity antibodies and they gave birth to healthy babies. Rest of the 4 (66.7%) IgG-IgM positive women had low avidity and 50% of them had abortion and 50% gave birth to unhealthy babies. This reveals that the seropositive mothers having high IgG avidity had past infection and no risk of congenital transmission. Seropositive mothers having low IgG avidity had acute infection and so congenital transmission occurred. Presence of T. gondii specific IgG and IgM antibody does not indicate acute infection always. IgG-IgM positive pregnant women should be further evaluated by IgG avidity assay to confirm acute infection.

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IMPORTÂNCIA DO RASTREAMENTO SOROLÓGICO DA TOXOPLASMOSE EM GESTANTES ATENDIDAS EM AMBULATÓRIO DE PRÉ-NATAL DE ALTO RISCO

Saúde (Santa Maria) ◽

10.5902/223658342007 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 29

Author(s):

Sandra Trevisan Beck ◽

Cristine Kolling Konopka ◽

Felipe Polgati Diehl ◽

Alexandre Kieslich da Silva

Keyword(s):

Retrospective Study ◽

High Risk ◽

Toxoplasma Gondii ◽

Prenatal Care ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Serological Test ◽

Serological Screening ◽

Igg Avidity ◽

Avidity Test ◽

Acute Toxoplasmosis

Estudo transversal, retrospectivo, de 408 gestantes imunocompetentes, atendidas em Ambulatório de Pré-Natal de Alto Risco, entre janeiro de 2005 a dezembro de 2006 para verificar a relevância da triagem sorológica da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii, nesta população. Foram analisados os perfis sorológicos, para pesquisa de anticorpos específicos IgM, IgG e avidez de IgG, através de métodos imunológicos ELFA® e MEIA®. Foram identificadas, 271 (66,42) imunes, 121 (29,6%) suscetíveis, seis (1,47%) com provável doença aguda e 10 (2,45%) casos com teste da avidez de IgG foi realizado após o quarto mês de gestação, além do tempo estabelecido como ideal para pesquisa deste parâmetro laboratorial. A realização do teste de avidez de IgG, em tempo adequado, permitiu definir um maior número de casos passiveis de tratamento. O encontro de 29,6% de gestantes suscetíveis à infecção por T. gondii mostrou a importância da triagem sorológica na prevenção de casos de toxoplasmose aguda .Palavras-chave: toxoplasmose; gestantes; IgG; IgM; cuidado pré-natal Transversal retrospective study of serological test to T. gondii infection for 408 immunocompetent pregnant women attended in The High Risk Prenatal Ambulatory, among January, 2005 to December, 2006 to determinate the importance of screening for Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection in this population. Serological profile for specific IgM, IgG and IgG avidity done by ELFA® e MEIA® methodology were analyzed. There were found 271(66,42%) out of 408 pregnant women immune to T.gondii infection, 41 (29,3%) susceptible, six (1,47%) with probable acute disease and ten (2,45%) with avidity test realized after the adequate period established like optimal for research. The accomplishment of the IgG avidity test during the correct time allows the detection of a higher number of acute diseases. The data for 29,6% of pregnant women susceptible to infection by T. gondii shows the importance of serological screening for toxoplasmosis in order to prevent cases of acute toxoplasmosis in the population studied.Keywords: Toxoplasmosis, Pregnant, IgG, IgM, Prenatal Care.

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Diagnosis of Acute Toxoplasmosis by IgG and IgM Antibodies and IgG Avidity in Pregnant Women from Mashhad, Eastern Iran

Iranian Journal of Parasitology ◽

10.18502/ijpa.v14i4.2107 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Karam SHARIFI ◽

Bibi Razieh HOSSEINI FARASH ◽

Fatemeh TARA ◽

Azad KHALEDI ◽

Karim SHARIFI ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pregnant Women ◽

Acute Infection ◽

P Value ◽

High Avidity ◽

Toxoplasma Infection ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Igm Antibody ◽

Igg Avidity ◽

Total Prevalence ◽

Acute Toxoplasmosis

Background: We aimed to evaluate the diagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis by IgG avidity test in pregnant women. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 250 blood samples were collected from pregnant women with the first month of their pregnancy referring to health centers of University in Mashhad during 2016. Samples were centrifuged at 3000 rpm for 5 min for separation of serum and were kept in the -20 until use. To detection of acute and chronic toxoplasmosis, anti-Toxoplasma antibodies (IgG and IgM, and IgG avidity tests were performed using ELISA. Then, data analyzed using SPSS software by Frequency, Pearson Chi-Square, Likelihood Ratio, and Exact tests. And P-value<0.05 was statistically considered as significant. Results: Total prevalence of IgG and IgM was 23.2% and 7.2%, respectively. A significant correlation was observed between the mean age and IgG level (P<0.05). It was not found any correlation between the history of raw meat consumption, cats keeping, education, and residency site. Moreover, 16 people (6.4%) had IgM antibody, of which, 10 cases (62.5%) with low avidity for IgG and 1 people (6.2%) with moderate avidity and 5 cases (31.3%) with high avidity for IgG. Moreover, 76% of pregnant women were seronegative. Conclusion: More than half of the women (62.5%) with positive IgM antibody in their serum had a low avidity for IgG which revealed an acute infection among pregnant women. Toxoplasma infection should be considered as an important factor that affects the pregnancy and IgG avidity as an important test for screening the women who need the treatment.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Strong Cell-Mediated Immune Response to Human Cytomegalovirus Is Associated With Increased Risk of Fetal Infection in Primarily Infected Pregnant Women.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.725638169.793527207 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Vincent Emery

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Human Cytomegalovirus ◽

Cell Mediated Immune Response ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Fetal Infection

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Dynamics of T Cells Repertoire During Trypanosoma cruzi Infection and its Post-Treatment Modulation

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867325666181101111819 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (36) ◽

pp. 6519-6543 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Adriana Egui ◽

Paola Lasso ◽

Elena Pérez-Antón ◽

M. Carmen Thomas ◽

Manuel Carlos López

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Trypanosoma Cruzi ◽

Chagas Disease ◽

Cardiac Tissue ◽

Acute Infection ◽

Clinical Status ◽

Chronic Phase ◽

Parasite Load ◽

Chronic Patients ◽

Cruzi Infection

Chagas disease courses with different clinical phases and has a variable clinical presentation and progression. The acute infection phase mostly exhibits a non-specific symptomatology. In the absence of treatment, the acute phase is followed by a chronic phase, which is initially asymptomatic. This chronic asymptomatic phase of the disease is characterized by a fragile balance between the host’s immune response and the parasite replication. The loss of this balance is crucial for the progression of the sickness. The virulence and tropism of the T. cruzi infecting strain together to the inflammation processes in the cardiac tissue are the main factors for the establishment and severity of the cardiomyopathy. The efficacy of treatment in chronic Chagas disease patients is controversial. However, several studies carried out in chronic patients demonstrated that antiparasitic treatment reduces parasite load in the bloodstream and leads to an improvement in the immune response against the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite. The present review is mainly focused on the cellular patterns associated to the clinical status and the evolution of the disease in chronic patients, as well as the effectiveness of the treatment related to T. cruzi infection control. Therefore, an emphasis is placed on the dynamics of specific-antigens T cell subpopulations, their memory and activation phenotypes, their functionality and their contribution to pathogenesis or disease control, as well as their association with risk of congenital transmission of the parasite.

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