Dot-ELISA for human leptospirosis employing immunodominant antigen.
A dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which uses a proteinase-K resistant antigen (PK-Dot-ELISA) to detect antileptospiral IgM antibodies was compared to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The assay was evaluated in serum samples from patients with leptospirosis (n = 89), typhoid fever (n = 10), malaria (n = 19), syphilis (n = 20), hepatitis (n = 16) and clinically healthy individuals (n = 92). The PK-Dot-ELISA presented a sensitivity of 92.1% and a specificity of 97.5%. The overall results of the PK-Dot-ELISA were similar to those of the MAT. However, the PK-Dot-ELISA was capable of detecting antibody activity in 43% of acute-phase sera which were negative by the MAT. Our data suggest that PK-Dot-ELISA can be used as an important portable field serodiagnostic assay for acute leptospirosis.
Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo Health Service, Brazil.
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Ribeiro
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Souza
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Almeida
D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes / Q000276:immunology*; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D007919:Leptospira / Q000276:immunology*; D007922:Leptospirosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D013587:Syphilis / Q000276:immunology; D014435:Typhoid Fever / Q000276:immunology
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D016056:Immunodominant Epitopes; D007075:Immunoglobulin M