Development of membrane-based tests for the detection of urinary antigens and antibodies in human toxoplasmosis: preliminary studies in Ghanaian patients.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2005
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
preliminary studies in Ghanaian patients
Abstract
Two membrane-based ELISA systems were used in detecting Toxoplasma antigens and anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in urine samples collected from 54 ophthalmology (22 suggestive active and 32 suggestive past infection) patients and 26 pregnant women attending obstetrics/gynaecology clinic (OGP), suspected of toxoplasmosis by eye examination, past medical records and questionnaire, respectively, in Ghana from mid-February to April 2002. The antigen detecting ELISA was able to demonstrate antigen in 100% (22/22) ophthalmology (active infection) and 62.5% (20/32) ophthalmology (past infection) patients, and 42% (11/26) of OGP which included 3 that were sero-negative prior to and during this study, giving an overall prevalence of 66.3% (53/80). The urinary antigen positive samples also included 6 that were negative for both the Dye Test (DT) and latex agglutination test (LAT). Antigen was not detected in the urine of 22 normal (sero-negative for antibodies to Toxoplasma) individuals. The membrane-based urinary antibody detecting sandwich ELISA also detected anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in 100% (22/22) of ophthalmology (active infection) and 81.3% (26/32) of ophthalmology (past infection) patients, a total of 89% (48/54); and 80.8% (21/26) of OGP with an overall prevalence of 86.3% (69/80), including 7 ophthalmology patients' samples that were sero-negative for both DT and LAT. Antibody sero-positivity of the samples was determined by DT as 87% (47/54) in ophthalmology patients and 73.1% (19/26) in pregnant women, LAT as 85.2% (46/54) and 65.4% (17/26), and an overall prevalence as 82.5% (66/80) and 78.8% (63/80), respectively. The membrane-based ELISA systems appear promising but need to be investigated further for its efficacy as reliable diagnostic tests.
Description
Keywords
Citation
Ayi, I., Akao, N., Bosompem, K. M., Akafo, S. K., Clarke, J., Nyador, L., Apea-Kubi, K. A., & Fujita, K. (2005). Development of membrane-based tests for the detection of urinary antigens and antibodies in human toxoplasmosis: preliminary studies in Ghanaian patients. Acta Tropica, 93(2), 151-159.