title: A recombinant antigen-based IgG4 ELISA for the specific and sensitive detection of Brugia malayi infection.
abstract: An IgG4 ELISA based on a novel recombinant antigen was evaluated for detection of Brugia malayi infection, using 2487 sera from various institutions: 2031 samples from Universiti Sains Malaysia, 276 blinded sera from 2 other institutions in Malaysia, 140 blinded sera from India and 40 blinded sera from Thailand. These sera were from various groups of individuals, i.e., microfilaraemics, chronic patients, endemic normals, non-endemic normals and individuals with other parasitic and bacterial infections. Based on a cut-off optical density reading of 0.300, the IgG4 ELISA demonstrated specificity rates of 95.6-100%, sensitivity rates of 96-100%, positive predictive values of 75-100% and negative predictive values of 98.9-100%. These evaluation studies demonstrated the high specificity and sensitivity of this test for the detection of active B. malayi infection. Thus, the IgG4 ELISA would be very useful as a tool in diagnosis and in elimination programmes for brugian filariasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia. rahmah@kb.usm.my
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rahmah
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khairul Anuar
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Shenoy
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kumaraswami
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lokman Hakim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chotechuang
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanjanopas
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000947:Antigens, Helminth / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005368:Filariasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D000947:Antigens, Helminth; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011994:Recombinant Proteins