title: Early detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection by using a interferon gamma release assay: A review.
abstract: Antibody-based serological tests are currently the most common diagnostic methods for detection of Toxoplasma gondii; however, these tests bear several limitations. Recently, Interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), a T-cell-based test, was introduced as an in vitro test for detection of T. gondii infection. Few studies have investigated the potential role of cell immunity in diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. IGRA accurately distinguished infected from uninfected individuals, showing strong lymphocyte activation after in vitro stimulation with T. gondii antigens, even during the first days of life. IGRA is an easy-operation and low-cost method to measure cell mediated immunity against T. gondii. The results of this review underline the importance of evaluating cellular immunity to establish an early diagnosis particularly for congenital toxoplasmosis. Therefore, ELISA-based IGRA holds the potential to become a useful diagnostic tool for early detection of T. gondii infection.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shima
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mahmoudi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Infectious Disease Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran; Department of Infectious Diseases, Pediatrics Center of Excellence, Children's Medical Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Setareh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mamishi
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Agrobiotechnology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; National Animal Protozoa Laboratory & College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing 100193, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Suo
authors.affiliation: Center for Research of Endemic Parasites of Iran (CREPI), Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Heath, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: hkeshavarz@tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Keshavarz
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014123:Toxoplasmosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D016781:Toxoplasmosis, Cerebral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D007371:Interferon-gamma
keywords: Diagnostic method; Interferon-gamma release assay; Toxoplasma gondii