Specific antibodies detected during relapse of human brucellosis.
We studied 10 patients who had a relapse of brucellosis for significant serological changes during relapse. By the Coombs test, the pre-relapse and post-relapse median (range) titers of antibody to Brucella were 1:1120 (1:40-1:10,240) and 1:10,240 (1:40-1:81,920), respectively (P = .0069); by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG, these values were 1:2240 (1:60-1:10,240) and 1:10,240 (1:160-1:81,920; P = .0069); by ELISA for IgA, the median titer increased 3.36 times but did not reach statistical significance (P = .0929); by tube agglutination, dithiothreitol (DTT) agglutination, and ELISA for IgM, median titers did not change. Nine patients had a significant titer increase by Coombs test and IgG ELISA, three had a significant increase by tube and DTT agglutination, none had significant increases by IgM ELISA, and one had no significant increase after relapse. Our findings show that for most patients with a relapse of brucellosis, there is an increase in IgG titers, as detected by ELISA and Coombs test, but no change in IgM titers.
Pellicer
T
T
Department of Microbiology, Universidad Autonoma, Barcelona, Spain.
Ariza
J
J
Foz
A
A
Pallares
R
R
Gudiol
F
F
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology*; D004229:Dithiothreitol; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000032:analysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M; D004229:Dithiothreitol