A serological test for granuloma inguinale.
OBJECTIVE
An indirect immunofluorescence technique applied to paraffin embedded tissue sections of lesions containing Donovan bodies was evaluated as a serological test for the diagnosis of granuloma inguinale.


METHODS
Sera from patients with proven granuloma inguinale, other sexually acquired genital ulcerations and blood donors from areas where granuloma inguinale is rarely encountered as well as from disease-endemic regions were tested. Sera were tested either unabsorbed or following absorption with whole Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria.


RESULTS
Using unabsorbed sera at a dilution of 1:160 the test was found to have a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 98%, positive predictive value (PPV) of 89% and negative predictive value (NPV) of 100%. There proved to be no advantage in preabsorbing sera with K. pneumoniae antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
In the absence of culture methods for Calymmatobacterium granulomatis, an indirect immunofluorescence technique may prove valuable for the diagnosis of individual cases of granuloma inguinale and as an epidemiological tool in studies of the disease.
Freinkel
A L
AL
Department of Anatomical Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand Medical School, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Dangor
Y
Y
Koornhof
H J
HJ
Ballard
R C
RC
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D002157:Calymmatobacterium / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006100:Granuloma Inguinale / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae; D016612:Paraffin Embedding; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial