Detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigen-containing immune complexes in the serum of cats.
Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigen-containing IgM immune complexes (T gondii-specific IgM-IC) and IgG immune complexes (T gondii-specific IgG-IC) in the serum of cats were developed. Serum from clinically ill, naturally infected cats; healthy, naturally infected cats; and healthy cats experimentally inoculated with T gondii was assayed. All combinations of T gondii-specific IgM, IgG, antigens, IgM-IC, and IgG-IC were detected in naturally infected and experimentally infected cats. Clinically ill cats and cats with ocular signs of toxoplasmosis were more likely than healthy cats to have T gondii-specific IC in serum. It was concluded that T gondii-specific IC form in the serum of cats, may play a role in clinical disease development, and affect the results of T gondii-specific IgM, IgG, and antigen serologic assays.
Department of Clinical Sciences, College Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins 80523.
M R
MR
Lappin
S
S
Cayatte
C C
CC
Powell
A
A
Gigliotti
C
C
Cooper
S M
SM
Roberts
D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex / Q000097:blood*; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D002371:Cat Diseases; D002415:Cats; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000936:Antigen-Antibody Complex; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D007075:Immunoglobulin M