scholarly journals Usefulness of serology in diagnosis of different clinical presentations of ocular toxoplasmosis

Author(s):  
Saritha V. Krishnankutty ◽  
Reni Philip ◽  
Vijayamma Narayani

 Background: Large proportions of acquired cases of ocular toxoplasmosis are reported with atypical presentations. The objectives of the study were to find out whether any correlation existed between serological findings of typical and atypical presentations of ocular toxoplasmosis as compared to cases presenting with non-toxoplasmic uveitis and to find out the proportion of various atypical presentations of ocular toxoplasmosis.Methods: It was a prospective observational study.The study subjects of ocular toxoplasmosis were tested for immunoglobulin M (IgM) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) toxoplasma antibody levels in serum by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) technique. The proportion of atypical presentation among total toxoplasma cases and distribution of atypical cases were calculated.  Fisher’s exact test, one-way analysis of variance and Kruskal-wallis test were used as applicable.Results: Among the cases (n=35) thirteen patients had typical presentation of a retinochoroidal focus with an adjacent scar and 22 patients had atypical features. Control group consisted of 24 patients. Various types of presentations in atypical cases were retinitis patch without an adjacent scar (31.8%), intermediate uveitis (27.3%), papillitis (22.7%) retinal vasculitis and dense vitritis (9.09% each).  Mean IgG levels in typical cases (85.3±82.9 IU/ml) and atypical cases (47.5±66.2) were significantly higher than control group (6.6±3.4, p<0.001).Conclusions: Serology is a useful tool in the diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis with a compatible clinical picture as serum IgG levels are significantly elevated in both typical and atypical presentations of ocular toxoplasmosis as compared to cases presenting with non-toxoplasmic uveitis.

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 96 (6) ◽  
pp. 1137-1142
Author(s):  
Cynthia M. Szelc-Kelly ◽  
Simin Goral ◽  
Guillermo I. Perez-Perez ◽  
Bradley A. Perkins ◽  
Russell L. Regnery ◽  
...  

Objective. To assess the serologic response to Afipia and Bartonella, previously named Rochalimaea, in patients with cat scratch disease (CSD) and a healthy control group. Design. Prospective, controlled trial. Setting. Referral clinic and hospitalized patients in a university medical center. Participants. Eighty patients with CSD and 57 healthy control subjects of similar age. Main Outcome Measures. The immune responses to Afipia felis and Bartonella henselae were evaluated by a newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in patients with CSD and healthy control subjects. Responses to B henselae were also measured by indirect fluorescent antibody (IFA) tests. Antibody levels to Bartonella quintana were measured by ELISA and IFA in a limited number of patients and control subjects. Results. Of the 80 patients with clinical CSD, 56 had positive results of CSD skin tests. ELISA antibody levels to A felis did not differ between patients and control subjects, but immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG ELISA antibodies to B henselae and B quintana were significantly higher in patients than in control subjects. IFA responses to B henselae and B quintana were also significantly higher in patients than in control subjects. Conclusion. Patients with CSD had significant serologic responses to B henselae and B quintana but not to A felis, suggesting that the causative agent of CSD is antigenically related to the Bartonella genus and not to Afipia. The Bartonella IgM ELISA and IFA assay were both sensitive and specific and may be used to establish the diagnosis of CSD.


2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Balmaseda ◽  
María G. Guzmán ◽  
Samantha Hammond ◽  
Guillermo Robleto ◽  
Carolina Flores ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT To evaluate alternative approaches to the serological diagnosis of dengue virus (DEN) infection, the detection of DEN-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgA antibodies in serum and saliva specimens was assessed in 147 patients with symptoms of DEN infection seen at the Ministry of Health in Nicaragua. Seventy-two serum samples were determined to be positive for anti-DEN antibodies by IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, the routine diagnostic procedure. Serum and saliva specimens were obtained from 50 healthy adults as additional controls. IgM was detected in the saliva of 65 of the 72 serum IgM-positive cases, 6 of the 75 serum IgM-negative cases, and none of the control group, resulting in a sensitivity of 90.3% and a specificity of 92.0% and demonstrating that salivary IgM is a useful diagnostic marker for DEN infection. Detection of IgA in serum may be another feasible alternative for the diagnosis of DEN infection, with serum IgA found in 68 (94.4%) of the IgM-positive cases. In contrast, detection of IgA in saliva was not found to be a useful tool for DEN diagnosis in the present study. Further studies of the kinetics of antibody detection in another set of 151 paired acute- and convalescent-phase serum samples showed that DEN-specific IgA antibodies were detected in more acute-phase samples than were IgM antibodies. Thus, we conclude that DEN-specific IgA in serum is a potential diagnostic target. Furthermore, given that saliva is a readily obtainable, noninvasive specimen, detection of DEN-specific salivary IgM should be considered a useful, cheaper diagnostic modality with similar sensitivity and specificity to IgM detection in serum.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 205873921882022
Author(s):  
Ge Zhang ◽  
Wei Huang ◽  
Ying Wang

The study aimed to detect the expression level of interleukin-37 (IL-37) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore its clinical significance. A total of 40 peripheral blood samples from active and stable RA patients were collected (40 patients with RA), and peripheral blood from 40 healthy volunteers was used as the control group. Peripheral blood serum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated. The expression of IL-37 mRNA in PBMCs was detected by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR. Serum levels of IL-37, rheumatoid factor (RF), and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody (CCP) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results were then calculated and analyzed. The results showed that expression of IL-37 mRNA in the PBMCs of patients with RA was significantly higher than that in the control group ( P < 0.05). Expression of IL-37 mRNA in the PBMCs of the active period group was significantly higher than that in the stable period group ( P < 0.05). IL-37 levels in patients with RA were significantly higher than those of the control group ( P < 0.05). IL-37 levels in the active period group were also significantly higher than those of the stable period group ( P < 0.05). The comparative analysis of RF and anti-CCP antibody levels showed that IL-37 was positively correlated with RF and anti-CCP levels in patients with RA. In conclusion, the expression level of IL-37 in peripheral blood of RA patients was significantly higher than that of normal control group, and it was correlated with RF and CCP antibody levels, indicating that IL-37 plays an important role in the development of RA.


2007 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 276-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Herremans ◽  
E. Duizer ◽  
E. Jusic ◽  
M. P. G. Koopmans

ABSTRACT Currently, diagnosis of acute hepatitis E virus (HEV) in patients is primarily based on anti-HEV immunoglobulin M (IgM) detection. However, several investigations suggest the use of HEV-specific IgA for diagnosing acute HEV infections. We evaluated two commercially available assays, an IgA enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (Diacheck) and an adapted immunoblot protocol (Mikrogen) for IgA detection and compared the performance in genotype 1- and 3-infected patients. The specificity of the IgA assays was high, with no positive reactions in a control group of 18 acute hepatitis patients who were negative for HEV. The sensitivity calculated in nine PCR-positive type 1-infected patients was 100% in both assays but was clearly lower in genotype 3-infected patients (n = 14), with sensitivities of only 67% and 57% for the ELISA and immunoblot assay, respectively. The lower IgA responses detected in genotype 3-infected patients could be caused by the use of only the genotype 1 and 2 antigens in the serological assays. Interestingly in two patients with possible infection through blood transfusion no response or intermediate IgA responses were detected, and this might confirm the parenteral route of transmission. In both the type 1- and type 3-infected patients both the IgA and IgM responses disappeared simultaneously. We conclude that IgA detection is of limited value for the serodiagnosis of acute HEV cases, particularly with genotype 3.


2014 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 284
Author(s):  
Sriandayani Sriandayani ◽  
Tonny H. Rampengan ◽  
Hesti Lestari ◽  
Novie Rampengan

Background Typhoid fever is endemic to Indonesia, with an annual incidence of 13/10,000 people. Vaccination has been shown to be an effective method to prevent typhoid fever. Of several vaccine types, the polysaccharide Vi vaccine is the most commonly used typhoid vaccine in developing countries. Results of previous studies remain inconclusive on the necessity of revaccination every 3 years.Objective To compare the mean serum anrioody titers of anti-S. typhi Vi IgG and the proportion of children with protective antibody levels between children with and without typhoid Vi vaccination.Methods We conducted a cross-secrional study at Tuminring District, 11anado from June to September 2012. Data was analyzed using independent T-test and Fisher's test. Serum anti-S. typhi Vi IgG levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.Results Seventy-six subjects were divided into two groups: 38 children who had received the typhoid Vi vaccination more than 3 years prior to this study and 38 children who never had typhoid vaccinations as a control group. No statistically significant difference in age and gender was found between the two groups. The mean serum anti-Vi IgG level was 0.55 ug/mL (SD 0.58; 95%CI 0.36 to 0.74) in the vaccinated group, significantly higher than that of the control group [0.31 ug/mL (SD 0.12); 950/£1 0.17 to 0.44; P􀂥0.0381. The proportion of children with protective antiNi antioody level was higher in the vaccinated group (23.7%) than in the control group  (10.5%), howevet; this difference was not statistically significant (P=0.128).Conclusion The mean serum anti-S. typhi Vi IgG antibody level in children who had been vaccinated more than 3 years prior to the study is higher than in children who had never received typhoid vaccinations. Nevertheless, the mean antibody titers are generally non-protective in ooth groups. Also, the proportion of children with protective antibody levels is not significantly different between the two groups.


2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-76
Author(s):  
Andrew Robinson ◽  
Andrew Mazurek ◽  
Minqi Xu ◽  
Yanping Gong

(1) Background: To date, data addressing the antibody response of cancer patients to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines are limited. To our knowledge, this is the first report to evaluate humoral immunity. responses in Canadian cancer patients. (2) Methods: 116 cancer patients and 35 healthy participants were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. The interval between the first and second doses were closely matched during analysis. IgG antibodies against the SARS-CoV-2 spike receptor–binding domain were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (3) Results: Following two doses of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (including BNT162b2, AZD1222, and mRNA-1273), the mean serum anti-spike protein antibody level was 382.4 BAU/mL (binding antibody unit, SD ± 9.4) in the control group, 265.8 BAU/mL (±145.7) in solid cancer patients, and 168.2 BAU/mL (±172.9) in hematological cancer patients. Observed differences were significantly lower in both solid and hematological groups when comparing to the control group (p ≤ 0.0001). In solid cancer group, patients with cytotoxic chemotherapy demonstrated significantly lower antibody levels (p < 0.01), whereas the rest of the patients showed similar antibody levels as the healthy control. Antibody levels were lower in those on treatment than those off treatment in patients with hematological malignancies (p < 0.0001) but not for those with solid cancers (p = 0.4553). (4) Conclusions: After two doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, patients with solid and hematological malignancies demonstrated impaired serological responses. This was particularly prominent if there was cytotoxic chemotherapy or systemic therapy in solid and hematological cancer, respectively.


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (6) ◽  
pp. 2866-2870 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gestur Vidarsson ◽  
Sigurveig T. Sigurdardottir ◽  
Thorolfur Gudnason ◽  
Sveinn Kjartansson ◽  
Karl G. Kristinsson ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major respiratory pathogen of infants, children, and the elderly. Polysaccharide vaccines have been useful in adult populations but do not elicit protective immunity in infants and young children. To enhance their immunogenicity, vaccines of pneumococcal polysaccharides conjugated to proteins are being developed. In this study antibody levels and opsonic activities were compared in sera of infants and adults injected with pneumococcal polysaccharide type 6B (Pn6B) conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT) (Pn6B-TT). Healthy infants were injected with Pn6B-TT; group A was injected at 3, 4, and 6 months of age, and group B was injected at 7 and 9 months of age. A booster injection was given at 18 months. Adults were injected once. Antibodies were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and radioimmunoassay, and their functional activities were measured by opsonophagocytosis of radiolabelled pneumococci. In adults, increases in immunoglobulin M (IgM), IgG, IgA, IgG1, and IgG2 to Pn6B were observed. Infants reached adult levels of IgG1 anti-Pn6B after the primary injections. After the booster injection the infant groups had total IgG- and IgM-Pn6B antibody levels similar to those of adults. After the booster injection, IgG1 was the dominant infant anti-Pn6B isotype and at a level higher than in vaccinated adults, but IgA and IgG2 antibodies remained at very low levels. Opsonic activity increased significantly after Pn6B-TT injections; the highest infant sera showed opsonic activity comparable to that of vaccinated adults. Overall, opsonic activity correlated best with total and IgG anti-Pn6B antibodies (r = 0.741,r = 0.653, respectively; n = 35) and was highest in sera with high levels of all Pn6B antibody isotypes. The results indicate the protective potential of a pneumococcal 6B polysaccharide protein conjugate vaccine for young infants.


2001 ◽  
Vol 69 (5) ◽  
pp. 3488-3493 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Boutonnier ◽  
Sylvain Villeneuve ◽  
Farida Nato ◽  
Bruno Dassy ◽  
Jean-Michel Fournier

ABSTRACT The epidemic and pandemic potential of Vibrio choleraeO139 is such that a vaccine against this newly emerged serogroup ofV. cholerae is required. A conjugate made of the polysaccharide moiety (O-specific polysaccharide plus core) of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of V. cholerae O139 (pmLPS) was prepared by derivatization of the pmLPS with adipic acid dihydrazide and coupling to tetanus toxoid (TT) by carbodiimide-mediated condensation. The immunologic properties of the conjugate were tested using BALB/c mice injected subcutaneously three times at 2 weeks interval and then a fourth time 4 weeks later. Mice were bled 7 days after each injection and then once each month for the following 6 months. LPS and TT antibody levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using immunoplates coated with either O139 LPS or TT. Both pmLPS and pmLPS-TT conjugate elicited low levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM), peaking 5 weeks after the first immunization. The conjugate elicited high levels of IgG antibodies, peaking 3 months after the first immunization and declining slowly during the following 5 months. TT alone, or as a component of conjugate, induced mostly IgG antibodies. Antibodies elicited by the conjugate recognized both capsular polysaccharide and LPS from V. cholerae O139 and were vibriocidal. They were also protective in the neonatal mouse model of cholera infection. The conjugation of the O139 pmLPS, therefore, enhanced its immunogenicity and conferred T-dependent properties to this polysaccharide.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-270
Author(s):  
Nafiseh Paydarnia ◽  
Behzad Mansoori ◽  
Davoud Esmaeili ◽  
Tohid Kazemi ◽  
Mahyar Aghapour ◽  
...  

Purpose: Helicobacter pylori is recognized as one of the prevalent causes of human gastricinfection. In the present study, the role of mixed immunization with H. pylori lipopolysaccharide(LPS) and recombinant cytotoxin-associated gene A (rCagA) as a stimulator of host immuneresponses was determined. Methods: BALB/c mice were immunized with different formulations by the systemic administrationat 14-day intervals. The effects of the formulations plus CpG adjuvants were assessed before andpost-immunization in separated studies. Moreover, the expression of Th1/Th2 cytokines wasquantified in sera of immunized mice using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR)test and the protein levels confirmed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).Finally, the specific antibody levels in sera were studied by ELISA and the tendency of cellularresponse was examined by IgG1/IgG2a ratio. Results: Data of Western blotting verified the presence of constructed protein. Analysisof lymphocyte proliferation showed that CpG-conjugated rCagA increases lymphocytesproliferation compared to the control group. Also, it was shown that formulations containing LPSand rCagA promote a Th1 response indicated by interferon-gamma expression and induced Th1/Th2 balance. Additionally, the specific IgG1, total IgG and IgG2a levels elevated in response toall treatments. Ultimately, the IgG2a/IgG1 ratio in the mice immunized with rCagA-containingformulations increased. Conclusion: These results indicated that rCagA protein carried with CpG adjuvant not onlymaintained its antigenicity throughout the experiment but also induced robust Th1-biasedimmune responses. Therefore, it holds promise for the production of an efficient vaccine againstH. pylori infection. <br />


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Manar Hamid ◽  
Ali B. M. Al-Waaly

The aim of this study was to detect the concentration of IgE antibody in children infected with Enterobius vermicularis and healthy children as a control group by using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The results indicated that there was an increase in the concentration of IgE antibody levels in people with E. vermicularis parasite with an average of (227.08 IU) compared to the control group, and the study of elevation ratios for age, where the results showed that the lowest increase in IgE antibody was recorded in the age group 1-3 years. The highest increase was recorded in the age group between 7-9 years with an average of (306.84 IU). The results of the statistical analysis showed very significant differences indicating a higher level of IgE among people with E. vermicularis parasite compared to the control group at a probability level of 0.05. The results of the statistical analysis through the use of the F-test showed no significant differences between the high antibody IgE in children with E. vermicularis parasite depending on age groups.


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