ELISAs based on recombinant antigens for seroepidemiological studies on Toxoplasma gondii infections in cats

Parasitology. 1994 Jul:109 ( Pt 1):29-36. doi: 10.1017/s0031182000077738.

Abstract

Two recombinant Toxoplasma gondii polypeptides, H4 and H11, were tested as diagnostic antigens in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The results obtained by ELISAs based on single H4 (H4-ELISA), on single H11 (H11-ELISA) and on a mixture of H4 and H11 (H4/H11-ELISA) were compared with results obtained by an ELISA based on traditional ELISA antigen (TEA-ELISA), an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), the Sabin-Feldman dye test (SFDT) and a direct agglutination test (DAT). A total of 306 cats from a suburban cat population were tested of which about 45% showed serological evidence of T. gondii infection. Infection rates varied from about 32% for cats kept indoors to about 55% for stray cats. Specificities > 99% were observed for all ELISAs based on the recombinant antigens (H4-ELISA, H11-ELISA and H4/H11-ELISA). The H4/H11-ELISA also reached a sensitivity of 95% which compared very favourably with those observed for the TEA-ELISA (98%) and for the IFAT (94%). Negative and positive predictive values for the H4/H11-ELISA were 96 and > 99%, respectively. Antibody titres measured by the H4/H11-ELISA also correlated well with those measured by the SFDT and the DAT. Hence, the H4/H11-ELISA appears to be a very suitable test for sero-epidemiological studies on T. gondii infections in cats.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Agglutination Tests
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood
  • Antigens, Protozoan* / immunology
  • Cat Diseases / diagnosis
  • Cat Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Cats
  • Dye Dilution Technique
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / veterinary*
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Housing, Animal
  • Male
  • Prevalence
  • Recombinant Proteins / immunology
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sex Factors
  • Toxoplasma / immunology*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / diagnosis
  • Toxoplasmosis, Animal / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Recombinant Proteins