Detection of antibodies in saliva--an effective auxiliary method in surveillance of infectious diseases.
Saliva is a body fluid containing antibodies of diagnostic significance. Unlike venipuncture, saliva collection (by brushing the teeth and rubbing the gums) is painless, non-invasive, inexpensive, simple and rapid. By using sensitive immunoassays in salivary specimens it is possible to diagnose immunoglobulins against a wide range of infectious diseases e.g. hepatitis A, B and C, measles, mumps, rubella, human immunodeficiency virus, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus B 19, human herpesvirus 6 and Helicobacter pylori infections. Salivary antibody testing may provide better access to epidemic outbreaks, children, large populations, hard-to-reach risk groups and may thus play a major role in the surveillance and control of infectious diseases. (Tab. 2, Ref. 34.)
Madar
R
R
Institute of Epidemiology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. madar@jfmed.uniba.sk
Straka
S
S
Baska
T
T
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000032:analysis; D012463:Saliva / Q000276:immunology*; D014777:Virus Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D007136:Immunoglobulins