title: Laboratory diagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection with direct and indirect diagnostic techniques.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Toxoplasma gondii infection, common parasitic zoonoses, is an important cause of spontaneous abortion, mental retardation, encephalitis, ocular disease and death worldwide. Today the major diagnostic techniques for the toxoplasmosis are serological assays, but its have many limitations.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The goal in this study is to improve the diagnostic accuracy of T. gondii infection, using direct (Real Time PCR) and indirect (IgM, IgA, IgG and IgG avidity) diagnostic techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period between 2007 and 2008, 96 non consecutive different clinical samples (38 blood, 40 amniotic fluids, 8 cerebrospinal fluids, 10 vitreous humors) and 96 sera have been studied simultaneously through molecular biology and serological techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Direct and indirect diagnostic techniques used in this study for laboratory diagnosis of T. gondii infection were always concordant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high correlation between direct and indirect diagnostic techniques exhibit that serologic techniques are accurate diagnostic assays as screening test in laboratory diagnosis of toxoplasmosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Services - O.U. Laboratory Analysis of Clinical Chemistry and Microbiology, S. Maria della Scaletta Hospital, via Montericco 4 Imola (BO), Italy. dott.pignanelli@libero.it
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pignanelli
mesh_terms: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000097:blood; D000915:Antibody Affinity; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques / Q000379:methods; D011247:Pregnancy; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan