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An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with whole trophozoites ofToxoplasma gondii from serum-free tissue culture for detection of specific antibodies

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Abstract

This paper describes a new procedure of preparation of the antigen for an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies againstToxoplasma gondii. To examine the reliability of this ELISA using whole trophozoites produced in a serumfree tissue culture as an antigen, 221 sera were tested comparatively in the new system (TTE, total trophozoites ELISA), in the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), and in a commeriially available ELISA using sonicated trophozoites as an antigen (STE, sonicated trophozoites ELISA). The ELISA with antigen lysate showed a good correlation with the IFAT; however, falsenegative results were sometimes obtained. The TTE was performed with all sera in two modifications: one test with an anti-IgG conjugate (G-TTE) and the other with an anti-Ig-G,-M,-A conjugate (GMA-TTE). In none of these TTE modifications were insensitivities observed; however, the G-TTE seems to offer a clearer differentiation between specifically reactive and nonreactive findings. The present study shows that the ELISA with whole trophozoites produced in serum-free tissue culture might be used as an alternative test to the IFAT. This test combines the advantages of the ELISA system with the sensitivity and specificity of the IFAT.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Parasitology, Clinical Institute of Hygiene, University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1095, Vienna, Austria

    A. Obwaller, A. Hassl, O. Picher & H. Aspöck

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  1. A. Obwaller
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  2. A. Hassl
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  3. O. Picher
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  4. H. Aspöck
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Obwaller, A., Hassl, A., Picher, O. et al. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with whole trophozoites ofToxoplasma gondii from serum-free tissue culture for detection of specific antibodies. Parasitol Res 81, 361–364 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00931494

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