title: Sonicated diagnostic immunoblot for bartonellosis.
abstract: Two simple Bartonella bacilliformis immunoblot preparation methods were developed. Antigen was prepared by two different methods: sonication of whole organisms or glycine extraction. Both methods were then tested for sensitivity and specificity. Well-defined control sera were utilized in the development of these diagnostic immunoblots, and possible cross-reactions were thoroughly examined. Sera investigated for cross-reaction with these diagnostic antigens were drawn from patients with brucellosis, chlamydiosis, Q fever, and cat scratch disease, all of whom were from regions where bartonellosis is not endemic. While both immunoblots yielded reasonable sensitivity and high specificity, we recommend the use of the sonicated immunoblot, which has a higher sensitivity when used to detect acute disease and produces fewer cross-reactions. The sonicated immunoblot reported here is 94% sensitive to chronic bartonellosis and 70% sensitive to acute bartonellosis. In a healthy group, it is 100% specific. This immunoblot preparation requires a simple sonication protocol for the harvesting of B. bacilliformis antigens and is well suited for use in regions of endemicity.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima Peru.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mallqui
authors.forename: E C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: Speelmon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verástegui
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maguiña-Vargas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pinell-Salles
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavarello
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kosek
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Arana
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Gilman
mesh_terms: D001473:Bartonella / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001474:Bartonella Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000276:immunology; D002372:Cat-Scratch Disease / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002690:Chlamydia Infections / Q000276:immunology; D003429:Cross Reactions; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005998:Glycine / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting / Q000379:methods*; D011778:Q Fever / Q000276:immunology; D013010:Sonication; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005998:Glycine