title: Sensitivity and specificity of various serological tests for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in naturally infected sheep.
abstract: Comparative serological examination of 300 serum samples from sheep slaughtered in the main abattoir in Cairo, Egypt revealed a higher prevalence of toxoplasmosis (43.7%) with the modified agglutination test (MAT), followed by the enzyme linked immune-sorbant assay (ELISA) (41.7%) and the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (37%), while the lowest prevalence was detected with the dye test (DT) (34%). When the data from the first three serological tests were compared with that of the DT test, which was used as a reference test for toxoplasmosis, MAT had the highest sensitivity (96%), followed by ELISA (90.1%) and IFAT, which demonstrated the lowest sensitivity (80.4%). Conversely, IFAT had the highest specificity (91.4%), followed by MAT (88.9%) and ELISA (85.9%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoonosis, National Research Center, Giza, Egypt. rmshaapan2005@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Shaapan
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: El-Nawawi
authors.forename: M A A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tawfik
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D019085:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology