title: Evaluation of the Western blotting method for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the Western blotting method for the detection of IgG anti-Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) (IgG-WB) in the serum of children with suspected congenital toxoplasmosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We accompanied 47 mothers with acquired toxoplasmosis in pregnancy and their children, between June of 2011 and June of 2014. The IgG-WB was done in house and the test was considered positive if the child had antibodies that recognized at least one band on IgG blots different from the mother's or with greater intensity than the corresponding maternal band, during the first three months of life.
  
  
  RESULTS
  15 children (15.1%) met the criteria for congenital toxoplasmosis and 32 (32.3%) had the diagnosis excluded. The symptoms were observed in 12 (80.0%) children and the most frequent were cerebral calcification in 9 (60.0%), chorioretinitis in 8 (53.3%), and hydrocephalus in 4 (26.6%). IgM antibodies anti-T. gondii detected by chemiluminescence (CL) were found in 6 (40.0%) children and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of T. gondii DNA was positive in 5 of 7 performed (71.4%). The sensitivity of IgG-WB was of 60.0% [95% confidence interval (CI) 32.3-83.7%] and specificity 43.7% (95% CI 26.7-62.3%). The sensitivity of IgG-WB increased to 76.0 and 89.1% when associated to the research of IgM anti-T. gondii or PCR, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The IgG-WB showed greater sensitivity than the detection of IgM anti-T. gondii; therefore, it can be used for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis in association with other congenital infection markers.
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Departamento de Pediatria e Cirurgia Pediátrica, Londrina, PR, Brazil. Electronic address: jaquedc@uel.br.
authors: Jaqueline Dario
authors: JD
authors: Capobiango
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors: Thaís Cabral
authors: TC
authors: Monica
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Laboratório de Zoonoses e Saúde Pública, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors: Fernanda Pinto
authors: FP
authors: Ferreira
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors: Regina
authors: R
authors: Mitsuka-Breganó
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors: Italmar Teodorico
authors: IT
authors: Navarro
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Centro de Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors: João Luis
authors: JL
authors: Garcia
authors: Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Departamento de Patologia, Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
authors: Edna Maria Vissoci
authors: EM
authors: Reiche
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan / Q000032:analysis*; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000032:analysis*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008163:Luminescent Measurements / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D009035:Mothers; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014122:Toxoplasma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000913:Antibodies, Protozoan; D007074:Immunoglobulin G
keywords: Congenital Toxoplasmosis; Diagnosis; Diagnóstico; Serology; Sorologia; Toxoplasmose Congênita; Western Blotting; Western blotting