title: Development of ELISAs based on recombinant antigens for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies in sheep and cats.
abstract: ELISAs using recombinant parasite polypeptides as antigens were developed to measure Toxoplasma gondii-specific antibodies in the sera of sheep and cats. Compared with an ELISA based on traditional parasite antigen, the ELISA for sheep sera had a sensitivity of 79% and a negative predictive value of 80%, and the ELISA for cat sera had a sensitivity of 100% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Both ELISAs had specificities of 100% and positive predictive values of 100%. These ELISAs appear to be a useful cost-effective alternative to ELISAs based on traditional parasite antigen for the measurement of T. gondii-specific antibodies in the sera of sheep and cats.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Parasitologie, Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tenter
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vietmeyer
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D002415:Cats; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan; D011994:Recombinant Proteins