title: Evaluation of IgM-ELISA versus PCR in diagnosis of recent Toxoplasma gondii infection.
abstract: Whereas Toxoplasma gondii infection in the immunocompetent adult usually causes no serious clinical symptoms, congenital infection can lead to abortion or severe disease in the newborn infant. Early diagnosis should be made as soon as possible particularly in pregnant women and newborn babies since early treatment can minimize fetal sequelae. This work evaluates IgM-ELISA and PCR in diagnosis of recent T. gondii infection. The results revealed that PCR detected very recently infected cases (23 out of 70 suspected cases) than IgM-ELISA (only 18 cases). The combination of both tests may help to improve the sensitivity of diagnosis (45% in suspected group) more than either PCR (32.8%) or IgM-ELISA alone (25.7%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Benha Branch of Zagazig University, Benha, Egypt.
authors.forename: Atef H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hussein
authors.forename: Ibraheim M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Nagaty
authors.forename: Mahmoud A H
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fouad
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016054:DNA, Protozoan / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000517:prevention & control; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D016054:DNA, Protozoan; D007075:Immunoglobulin M