title: Chimeric protein A/G conjugate for detection of anti-Toxoplasma gondii immunoglobulin G in multiple animal species.
abstract: Serological testing for toxoplasmosis diagnosis remains the method of choice in human medicine due to the accessibility of the requisite sample, the difficulty in predicting the parasite's location in the host for direct detection, and the availability of established commercial methods. In veterinary medicine, although the first 2 conditions are unchanged, there is a need for commercially produced test methods that are validated for Toxoplasma gondii detection across the range of animal species that can serve as intermediate hosts. The development of such a serological method for animals would allow the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in individual animals and a higher throughput method for population-level toxoplasmosis surveys. The incorporation of a non-species-specific chimeric protein A/G conjugate into an anti-Toxoplasma immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is described. Serum from potential intermediate hosts was reevaluated using this method and compared with earlier testing using an established agglutination procedure. Very good agreement between the 2 tests was noted (κ = 0.81), establishing the method as a useful option for veterinary diagnostic testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine and Diagnostic Sciences, Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, USA.
authors.forename: John J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Schaefer
authors.forename: Holly A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Schaaf
authors.forename: Hussni O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Susan E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Wade
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary*; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood*; D012372:ROC Curve; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014124:Toxoplasmosis, Animal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C034284:IgG Fc-binding protein, Streptococcus; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D013205:Staphylococcal Protein A