An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with whole trophozoites of Toxoplasma gondii from serum-free tissue culture for detection of specific antibodies.
This paper describes a new procedure of preparation of the antigen for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii. To examine the reliability of this ELISA using whole trophozoites produced in a serum-free tissue culture as an antigen, 221 sera were tested comparatively in the new system (TTE, total trophozoites ELISA), in the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and in a commercially available ELISA using sonicated trophozoites as an antigen (STE, sonicated trophozoites ELISA). The ELISA with antigen lysate showed a good correlation with the IFAT; however, false-negative results were sometimes obtained. The TTE was performed with all sera in two modifications: one test with an anti-IgG conjugate (G-TTE) and the other with an anti-Ig-G, -M, -A conjugate (GMA-TTE). In none of these TTE modifications were insensitivities observed; however, the G-TTE seems to offer a clearer differentiation between specifically reactive and nonreactive findings. The present study shows that the ELISA with whole trophozoites produced in serum-free tissue culture might be used as an alternative test to the IFAT. This test combines the advantages of the ELISA system with the sensitivity and specificity of the IFAT.
Obwaller
A
A
Department of Medical Parasitology, Clinical Institute of Hygiene, University of Vienna, Austria.
Hassl
A
A
Picher
O
O
Aspöck
H
H
D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan / Q000276:immunology; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013045:Species Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D000953:Antigens, Protozoan