title: Duration of specific immunoglobulin A antibody following acute toxoplasmosis as determined by enzyme immunoassay and immunosorbent agglutination assay.
abstract: Modifications of an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and an immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA) for measuring Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM antibody were made to enable the measurement of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgA antibody. It was shown that specific IgA could be measured by both assays but that the ISAGA was slightly more sensitive. IgA appears about two weeks after IgM and persists for 6 to 7 months. However, the IgA response varies considerably both in degree and duration, and demonstration of IgM antibody is at present the most suitable routine test for the diagnosis of recent Toxoplasma gondii infection.
authors.affiliation: Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, Public Health Laboratory, Singleton Hospital, Swansea, UK.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Joynson
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007163:Immunosorbent Techniques; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M