Rapid Immunochromatographic Test Using Recombinant SAG2 for Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in Cats (original) (raw)

2004

https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.42.1.351-353.2004

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Abstract

An immunochromatographic test using recombinant truncated surface antigen 2 for detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii was developed. Evaluation of detection of the antibody in mice and cats suggests that this test is rapid, simple, accurate, relatively inexpensive, and suitable for use under field conditions.

Detection of antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii in domesticated ruminants by recombinant truncated SAG2 enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2014

An antibody detection recombinant enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) specific for Toxoplasma gondii was laboratory standardized using recombinant truncated surface antigen 2 (SAG2) protein of T. gondii. A 483-bp sequence coding for truncated tachyzoite stagespecific SAG2 protein was amplified and ligated in pPROExHT-b expression vector to transform Escherichia coli DH5α cells. A high-level expression of the histidine-tagged fusion protein was obtained after 8 h of incubation. The recombinant protein was affinity purified using Ni-NTA agarose column and characterized by SDS-PAGE and Western blot analysis. Subsequently, the diagnostic potential of the recombinant protein was assessed with 168 field sera samples from sheep, goats and cattle. Among the small ruminants, 50 % (n=60) sheep sera samples and 41.26 % (n=63) goat samples were detected positive for T. gondii-specific antibodies. As far as seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in cattle is concerned, 64.44 % (n=45) of sera samples assayed were found to be positive. When compared to indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), the sensitivity of the recombinant truncated SAG2 antigen-based ELISA (rec-SAG2-ELISA) ranged from 81.25 to 87.10 % while the specificity was 85.71 to 91.43 % with substantial agreement between the tests.

Comparison of a Commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) for the Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in a Cohort of Hunting Dogs

Animals

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, affecting most warm-blooded animals. Assessing the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different animal species gives a good estimate of the global circulation of the parasite and the risk for human infections. However, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in dogs is not studied as much as other species, despite their close contact with wildlife and humans in rural or urban environments and evidence that dogs can also be a potential source for human contaminations. A commercial enzyme-inked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies in sera of hunting dogs potentially naturally infected, was compared to the modified agglutination test (MAT), used as the reference method. The ELISA presented a sensitivity of 76.5% (CI 95%: 60.0–87.6) and a specificity of 87.7% (CI 95%: 76.7–93.9) and a substantial agreement with the MAT for the detection of canine anti-T. gondii antibodies. Both tests can t...

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in cat's internal organs by immunohistochemistry methods labeled with-[strept] avidin-biotin

Aim: The aims of the study are to detect the presence of Toxoplasma gondii antigen and to determine its distribution location in several organs of domestic cat using immunohistochemistry (IHC) method with Labeled-[Strept] Avidin-Biotin (LAB-SA). Material and Methods: Four domestic cats aged 1-2 years were used as sample in this research. The sample divided into two groups with two cats each. Cats in Group I were positive Toxoplasma based on serologically screening test, while cats in Group II were orally infected with 1×10 6 Toxoplasma oocyst. All samples then necropsied, and the organs including brain, liver, kidney, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, lungs, and spleen were collected for IHC method with LAB-SA. Result: The result showed that Toxoplasma antigens were detected in ileum of both serologically positive domestic cat and the experimentally infected cats. Toxoplasma was also observed in kidney of serologically positive domestic cat. In the serologically positive domestic cat, necrotic lesions were found on ileum, kidney, and liver, whereas in experimentally infected cat, the lesion was only found on ileum. Conclusion: The presence of Toxoplasma antigen is successfully detected in several organs of domestic cat using IHC method with the LAB-SA.

Toxoplasma gondii: Comparison of a rhoptry-ELISA with IFAT and MAT for antibody detection in sera of experimentally infected pigs

Experimental Parasitology, 2006

Indirect ELISA and IFAT have been reported to be more sensitive and specific than agglutination tests. However, MAT is cheaper, easier than the others and does not need special equipment. The purpose of this study was to compare an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay using crude rhoptries of Toxoplasma gondii as coating wells (r-ELISA) with indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT) and modified agglutination test (MAT) to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies in sera of experimentally infected pigs. Ten mixed breed pigs between 6.5 and 7.5 weeks old were used. All pigs were negative for the presence of T. gondii antibodies by IFAT (titre < 16), r-ELISA (OD < 0.295) and MAT (titre < 16). Animals received 7 · 10 7 viable tachyzoites of the RH strain by intramuscular (IM) route at day 0. Serum samples were collected at days À6, 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42, 50, and 57. IFAT detected anti-T. gondii antibodies earlier than r-ELISA and MAT. The average of antibody levels was higher at day 35 in IFAT (Log10 = 2.9) and in MAT (Log10 = 3.5), and at day 42 in r-ELISA (OD = 0.797). The antibody levels remained high through the 57th day after inoculation in MAT, and there was a decrease tendency in r-ELISA and IFAT. IFAT was used as ''gold standard'' and r-ELISA demonstrated a higher prevalence (73.3%), sensitivity (94.3%), negative predictive value (83.3%), and accuracy (95.6%) than MAT. Kappa agreements among tests were calculated, and the best results were shown by r-ELISA · IFAT (j = 0.88, p < 0.001). Cross-reaction with Sarcocystis miescheriana was investigated in r-ELISA and OD mean was 0.163 ± 0.035 (n = 65). Additionally, none of the animals inoculated with Sarcocystis reacted positively in r-ELISA. Our results indicate that r-ELISA could be a good method for serological detection of T. gondii infection in pigs.

Evaluation of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detecting antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii from naturally and experimentally infected pigs

Infectious diseases (London, England), 2018

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most frequent parasitic infections in animals causing reproductive disorders and thus notable economic losses in productivity. Among food animals, pigs along with sheep and goats possess the highest incidence of Toxoplasma gondii cysts in meat, and play a role as a source of human infection. The commercial ELISA kit (PrioCHECK® Toxoplasma Ab SR, Prionics Schlieren-Zurich, Switzerland) for the detection of specific antibodies against T. gondii in swine serum was compared with a commercial IFAT (indirect fluorescent antibody test) (Toxo-Spot IF, bioMérieux, France), used as the reference test. The kappa value obtained comparing the results performed on sera by ELISA with the by IFAT was 1. By a receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, the commercial ELISA had a relative sensitivity of 100%, and a relative specificity of 100% respect to IFAT. The commercial ELISA showed a very good agreement with the commercial IFAT in the detection of serum antibo...

Evaluation of the indirect fluorescent antibody test and modified agglutination test for detection of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in experimentally infected pigs

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

The study determined the sensitivity and specificity of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and modified agglutination test (MAT) for anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibody detection by analyzing sera from 46 experimentally infected pigs. Values for sensitivity were 95.7% (confidence interval 95%: 84.0-99.2%) and for specificity 97.8% (confidence interval 95%: 87.0-99.9%) in both tests. There was an optimum agreement of results between IFAT and MAT evidenced by a Kappa test of 0.86. These results validate these tests for the detection of T gondii infection in pigs. MAT and MAT despite methodologies with different characteristics and readings have similar accuracy in pig serum samples.

Comparison of Mat with Elisa and Lat Tests in Detecting Toxoplasma Gondii Antibodies in Human Sera

Science Journal of University of Zakho, 2017

The modified agglutination test (MAT) has been widely used for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii infection in numerous animal species. For the standard protocol of MAT test, T. gondii whole cell antigens were produced in the laboratory mice, which was a tedious process. The produced antigen in cell culture was used to assure its capability for MAT test. For detecting the antibodies of T. gondii in human sera, comparison was made between MAT, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and latex agglutination test (LAT). A total of 96 human serum samples were tested. The anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were found in 25.0% (24/96), 20.8% (20/96) and 13.5% (13/96) samples by MAT (cutoff 1:25), ELISA and LAT tests, respectively. The MAT and ELISA tests matched 95.8% in detection of IgG antibodies, with the positive percent agreement of 100% (20/20) and negative percent agreement of 94.7% (72/76). For the MAT versus LAT tests, the overall agreement was 88.5% (85/96), with the positive percent agreement of 100% (13/13) and negative percent agreement of 86.7% (72/83). These results suggest a strong correlation between the MAT and ELISA tests in detecting serum IgG to T. gondii in human sera. In conclusion, T. gondii prepared in cell culture provides an alternative solution to produce antigens for MAT test.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in clinically ill cats in the United States

American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2005

Objective—To determine regional seroprevalence estimates of Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM and IgG in clinically ill cats throughout the United States. Sample Population—Sera from 12,628 clinically ill, client-owned cats. Procedure—Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgM and IgG antibodies were detected by use of ELISAs. Sera from clinically ill cats previously submitted for T gondii antibody testing were sequentially selected from our serum bank and the sample submission paperwork reviewed. The country was divided into 12 geographic regions. Overall prevalence as well as prevalence for each region, age group, season, sex (male vs female), and breed (domestic shorthair vs other) was calculated. Data were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. Results—Overall, 31.6% of the cats were seropositive for T gondii-specific IgM, IgG, or both. Percentage of cats seropositive for T gondii antibodies ranged from 16.1% (southwestern United States) to 43.5% (northeastern United States). As age increas...

Evaluation of Toxoplasma Gondii IgG Antibodies in Stray and Household Dogs by Elisa

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most prevalent multisystemic protozoal organisms affecting warm-blooded vertebrates. The aim of study was to determine Toxoplasma sero-epidemiology and also to investigate chronic form of the Toxoplasmosis. Blood samples were taken from 90 dogs including 45 household (pet) and 45 stray dogs in order to detect anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies. ELISA were used for diagnosing IgG antibodies. Based on our results 40% of household dogs and 77.77% of stray dogs had anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies. It was also seen that antibody titer in stray dogs was statistically much higher than that of household dogs (P<0.05). Antibodies titer in pets which were kept outdoor was significantly higher than that of those which were kept indoor dogs (P<0.05). Regarding the kind of food (raw, cooked or both) and the amount of antibody, it was seen that the antibody titer in dogs which were fed with raw food was significantly higher (P<0.05). Considering the sero-positi...

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Serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in cats by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using recombinant SAG1

Veterinary Parasitology, 2001

The gene encoding surface antigen 1 (SAG1, P30) of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) was cloned into the plasmid pGEX-4T-3 and subsequently expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) as a glutathione-S-transferase (GST) fusion protein. The recombinant SAG1 (rSAG1) was refolded using 8 M urea solution followed by dialysis and thereafter evaluated in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for serological diagnosis of toxoplasmosis. The test sera were adsorbed with GST to block non-specific reactivity to the GST-SAG1 fusion protein. The ELISA with rSAG1 was able to differentiate very clearly between sera from cats or mice experimentally infected with T. gondii and sera from normal cats or mice. The ELISA detected no cross-reactivity with sera from mice experimentally infected with the closely related parasite Neospora caninum (N. caninum). Some 193 cat sera were tested for antibodies to T. gondii, out of which 40 (20.7%) reacted positively by ELISA with the rSAG1 while another 79.3% cats reacted negative to the assay. Both positive and negative sera were confirmed by Western blot analysis. The results of ELISA were in agreement with those of a commercially available latex agglutination test (LAT) kit, although the former had higher titers than the latter.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii-Specific Antibodies in Dogs. A Comparative Study of Immunoenzymatic, Immunofluorescent and Haemagglutination Titers

Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, 1997

We evaluated the titers of anti-T. gondii antibodies by various serological tests in 40 serum samples from dogs exhibiting clinical signs of infectious diseases. Indirect immunofluorescence (IgG-IFI), indirect haemagglutination (IHA and M-Toxo) and immunoenzymatic (ELISA and PA-ELISA) tests were carried out. Titers ≥ 64 were considered as positive. Anti-Toxoplasma antibodies were found in 9 (22.5%), 14 (35%), 14 (35%) and 12 (30%) samples, respectively for IHA, IgG-IFI, ELISA and PA-ELISA. The results showed that 57% were negative in all tests and 43% of the dogs presented antibodies to T. gondii; from these, 20% were positive in all three tests with high titers of antibodies and 23% were positive in only one or two tests with low titers of antibodies and mainly related to the IFI and ELISA tests. We observed 5 (12.5%) and 1 (2.5%) reactive samples, respectively, by M-Toxo and IHA with or without 2mercapthoethanol, in the attempt to detect specific IgM. We can conclude that serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in dog have to be based on the combination of serological tests (IFI and ELISA) and with emphasis at the determination of the titers and the classes of the specific antibodies.

Descriptive Comparison of ELISAs for the Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Antibodies in Animals: A Systematic Review

Pathogens

Toxoplasma gondii is the zoonotic parasite responsible for toxoplasmosis in warm-blooded vertebrates. This systematic review compares and evaluates the available knowledge on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), their components, and performance in detecting T. gondii antibodies in animals. Four databases were searched for published scientific studies on T. gondii and ELISA, and 57 articles were included. Overall, indirect (95%) and in-house (67%) ELISAs were the most used types of test among the studies examined, but the ‘ID Screen® Toxoplasmosis Indirect Multi-species’ was common among commercially available tests. Varying diagnostic performance (sensitivity and specificity) and Kappa agreements were observed depending on the type of sample (serum, meat juice, milk), antigen (native, recombinant, chimeric) and antibody-binding reagents used. Combinations of recombinant and chimeric antigens resulted in better performance than native or single recombinant antigens. Protein ...

Rapid Detection of Toxoplasma gondii Antigen in Experimentally Infected Mice by Dot- ELISA

Iranian journal of parasitology, 2011

Toxoplasmosis is a worldwide endemic disease. In congenitally infected infants and AIDS patients, toxoplasmosis causes high rates of morbidity and mortality. In these cases antibody detection is difficult; so detection of parasite or its components could be useful tool for early detection and following treatment of the infection. Sixty-three BALB/c mice were injected intra-peritoneal with 5×10(3) tachyzoites of Toxoplasma gondii RH strain, nine mice were sacrificed daily for 7 days. Fourteen mice were injected with phosphate buffer saline as control group. Dot-ELISA was performed for detection of T.gondii antigen in mice sera and capture - ELISA was done as golden standard assay too. Toxoplasma gondii antigen was detected from day 2 in mice sera; 22% of mice sera on day 2, 33% on day 3,77% on day 4 and 100% on day 5 till their death on day 7 had shown antigenemia by dot - ELISA, no positive result was detected in control mice by dot- ELISA. Dot-ELISA is a sensitive method for diagno...

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii antigens by a dot-immunobinding technique

Journal of clinical microbiology, 1985

A sensitive assay for the detection of antigens of Toxoplasma gondii by spotting samples directly onto nitrocellulose paper was developed. The sensitivity ranged from 10 to 40 pg of antigen diluted in phosphate-buffered saline and 40 to 130 pg of antigen diluted in normal mouse serum, normal human serum, or human cerebrospinal fluid. T. gondii antigen in serum samples taken from mice infected with T. gondii was detectable by day 2 of infection. Antigen was also detectable in cerebrospinal fluid samples taken from four of six infants congenitally infected with T. gondii and in serum samples from two of these infants.

Evaluation of Solid-Phase Chemiluminescent Enzyme Immunoassay, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, and Latex Agglutination Tests for Screening Toxoplasma IgG in Samples Obtained from Cats and Pigs

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 2000

Serum samples from cats and pigs were analyzed by the solid-phase chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay (SPCEI), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and indirect latex agglutination (ILA) methods. The SPCEI and ILA methods accurately analyzed Toxoplasma IgG (T-IgG) in both clinical and spiked samples from pigs and cats. The ELISA method accurately analyzed T-IgG in spiked samples from cats and pigs or clinical samples from pigs, but it did not accurately analyze T-IgG in clinical samples from cats. The antibody used in the ELISA kit did not cross-react with cat T-IgG. The SPCEI method that uses a stand-alone automated analyzer provided quantitative analysis, whereas the ELISA and ILA methods provided qualitative or, at best, semiquantitative analysis of T-IgG. The SPCEI and ELISA methods were rapid (60–90 minutes for 30 samples), whereas the ILA method required 13–15 hours for 30 samples. Although the three methods accurately distinguished positive from negative samples, the IL...

Evaluation of recombinant granule antigens GRA1 and GRA7 for serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii infection in dogs

BMC veterinary research, 2014

Toxoplasmosis, caused by the obligate intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii, is an important zoonotic disease worldwide. The precise detection of T. gondii infection in dogs has important public health significance. In this study, recombinant granule antigen proteins GRA1 and GRA7 were evaluated as potential diagnostic markers for T. gondii infection in dogs by an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). GRA1 and GRA7 were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the recombinant GRA1, GRA7- and Toxoplasma lysate antigen (TLA)-based ELISAs were developed and evaluated using the canine positive and negative serum samples for anti-T. gondii antibodies determined by modified agglutination test (MAT) and indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), showing a seroprevalence of 15.1% by TLA- and GRA1-ELISA, and 15.8% by GRA7-ELISA, and no significant difference was observed (P > 0.05). When compared with the two reference assays, MAT and IFAT, the GRA7-ELISA showed the ...

Evaluation of the performance of the modified direct agglutination test (MAT) for detection of Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in dogs

Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 2003

Toxoplasmose é uma zoonose que vem sendo objeto de estudos no Brasil e em todas as partes do mundo. Os cães são considerados sentinelas da infecção, podendo carrear o agente pelo ambiente. Levantamentos soro-epidemiológicos desses animais são importantes ferramentas de vigilância e controle da doença em programas de saúde. Neste estudo a performance do Teste de Aglutinação Modificada (MAT) no sorodiagnóstico da toxoplasmose canina foi avaliado e comparado à reação de imunoflorescência indireta (RIFI). Uma amostra de 157 soros de cães do município de Monte Negro, Rondônia, com 76.40% de animais positivos ao Toxoplasma gondii (RIFI =16) foi analisado utilizando o MAT (=25) e apresentou sensibilidade de 85,00% (Intervalo de Confiança 95,00%: 79,4-90,60%) e especificidade de 100,00%.

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Sero-diagnostic evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii recombinant Rhoptry antigen 8 expressed in E. coli

Parasites & Vectors, 2014

Background: Toxoplasma gondii infects all warm-blooded animals, including humans. Early diagnosis and determining the infective stage are critical for effectively treating immunosuppressed individuals and pregnant women with toxoplasmosis. Among the rhoptry proteins of the parasite, Rhoptry protein 8 (ROP8), is known to be expressed during the early stages of T. gondii infection and is involved in parasitophorous vacuole formation. In this study, we have investigated the diagnostic efficacy of recombinant ROP8 (rROP8). Methods: The ROP8 gene was cloned into pCOLD I DNA vector and expressed as a soluble recombinant antigen in Escherichia coli. Expressed ROP8 protein was evaluated using western blot method.

Comparative Study of Indirect Fluorescent Antibody, ELISA, and Immunochromatography Tests for Serological Diagnosis of Bovine Babesiosis Caused by Babesia bovis

Animals

The indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) is the most frequently used test to conduct seroepidemiological studies so far, and it is regarded as the "gold standard" test for the serological diagnosis of bovine babesiosis. The aim of the present study was to compare the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the rapid immunochromatography test (ICT) for use in the serological diagnosis of cattle exposed to B. bovis in Mexico. The evaluation of test performance was carried out with 30 positive and 30 negative reference sera. A total of 72 bovine sera samples collected from cattle in a region with endemic bovine babesiosis were analyzed by ELISA and ICT, and the results were compared with those of IFAT. Kappa value (k) was also calculated to determine the agreement between tests. The sensitivity and specificity of ELISA for detecting antibodies against B. bovis were 87% (26/30) and 80% (24/30), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of ICT for detecting antib...

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in household cats in Myanmar and molecular identification of parasites using feline faecal oocysts

Food and Waterborne Parasitology, 2020

Felids play an important role in the transmission of Toxoplasma gondii to humans and other animals since they can excrete millions of oocysts into the environment as definitive hosts. In the present study, seroprevalence and risk factors of feline Toxoplasma infection were investigated, and molecular identification was conducted for T. gondii oocysts isolated from faecal samples of seropositive cats. A total of 276 cat serum samples collected from the Yangon, Myanmar were tested for T. gondii antibodies by ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii infection was 41.30% (114 seropositive cats). Age between 1 and 6 years (OR = 3.284; 95% CI = 1.462-7.375), age > 6 years (OR = 4.560; 95% CI = 1.588-13.100) and sex (OR = 1.725; 95% CI = 1.026-2.899) were found to be significant (P < 0.05) factors associated with T. gondii infection. DNA samples extracted from a single oocyst of seropositive cats were employed in three PCR assays amplifying parasite TOX-element and mitochondrial COI, and SAG2 locus. The obtained sequences of TOX-elements (n = 6) and COI (n = 5) were identical to those of T. gondii previously deposited in Genbank. SAG2 PCR yielded three different sequences, all of which were clustered with Type I T. gondii isolates in a phylogenetic tree. This study reported the seroprevalence and risk factors for T. gondii infection in cats and provided the molecular information on the parasite in Myanmar.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii Infection among Pregnant Women in Kumasi: A Cross-Sectional Study at a District-Level Hospital, Ghana

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2021

Background. This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant women in a district-level hospital in Ghana and compared the diagnostic performance of the rapid diagnostic test (RDT) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for T. gondii diagnosis. Method. This cross-sectional study included 400 consecutive consenting women in their first-trimester stage of pregnancy. A validated well-structured closed-ended questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data and possible risk factors of each participant. Blood samples were collected for analysis of T. gondii IgG and IgM using the commercial ELISA Kit and RDT. Results. Seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 21.5% and 57.3% based on the RDT and ELISA technique, respectively. Secondary education ( cOR = 1.9 , 95% CI (1.1-3.1), and p = 0.020 ) and contact with cats ( cOR = 1.7 , 95% CI (1.1-2.8), and p = 0.030 ) were significant predictors of T. gondii infection, with the former b...

Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii-recombinant dense granular protein (GRA2) for serodiagnosis by western blot

Parasitology Research, 2012

Toxoplasma gondii infects all warm-blooded animals including humans, causing serious public health problems and great economic loss in the food industry. Commonly used serological tests involve preparation of whole Toxoplasma lysate antigens from tachyzoites which are costly and hazardous. An alternative method for better antigen production involving the prokaryotic expression system was therefore used in this study. Recombinant dense granular protein, GRA2, was successfully cloned, expressed, and purified in Escherichia coli, BL21 (DE3) pLysS. The potential of this purified antigen for diagnosis of human infections was evaluated through western blot analysis against 100 human serum samples. Results showed that the rGRA2 protein has 100 and 61.5 % sensitivity towards acute and chronic infection, respectively, in T. gondii-infected humans, indicating that this protein is useful in differentiating present and past infections. Therefore, it is suitable to be used as a sensitive and specific molecular marker for the serodiagnosis of Toxoplasma infection in both humans and animals.

Recombinant Dense Granular Protein (GRA5) for Detection of Human Toxoplasmosis by Western Blot

BioMed Research International, 2014

Toxoplasma gondiiinfects all warm-blooded animals, including humans, causing serious public health problems and great economic loss for the food industry. Commonly used serological tests require costly and hazardous preparation of wholeToxoplasmalysate antigens from tachyzoites. Here, we have evaluated an alternative method for antigen production, which involved a prokaryotic expression system. Specifically, we expressedT. gondiidense granular protein-5 (GRA5) inEscherichia coliand isolated it by affinity purification. The serodiagnostic potential of the purified recombinant GRA5 (rGRA5) was tested through Western blot analysis against 212 human patient serum samples. We found that rGRA5 protein was 100% specific for analysis of toxoplasmosis-negative human sera. Also, rGRA5 was able to detect acute and chronicT. gondiiinfections (sensitivities of 46.8% and 61.2%, resp.).

Feline Toxoplasmosis in Greece: A Countrywide Seroprevalence Study and Associated Risk Factors

Pathogens

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous zoonotic parasite, with felines being the only definitive hosts. Cats shed oocysts with their faeces, and seroprevalence studies can be used to indirectly assess the environmental contamination. The current study aimed to evaluate T. gondii seroprevalence in Greek cats and identify possible risk factors. In total, 1554 blood samples were analyzed from different cats across all nine geographic regions of Greece, and a short questionnaire was completed for each cat. A rapid immunochromatographic test was used to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies, IgG type, and 21.8% of cats were seropositive. Regarding risk factors, when chi-square tests were applied, seropositivity was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in rural cats, cats with outdoor access, and hunting cats. Gender, age, ownership, and raw feeding were not significant risk factors, although female, adult, stray, and raw-feeding cats had a higher seroprevalence than their counterparts. Binary logist...

Review on the Current Trends of Toxoplasmosis Serodiagnosis in Humans

Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 2020

Toxoplasmosis is a widely distributed zoonotic infection caused by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is mainly transmitted through the ingestion of oocysts shed by an infected cat acting as its definitive host. The key to effective control and treatment of toxoplasmosis is prompt and accurate detection of T. gondii infection. Several laboratory diagnostic methods have been established, including the most commonly used serological assays such as the dye test (DT), direct or modified agglutination test (DAT/MAT), indirect hemagglutination test (IHA), latex agglutination test (LAT), indirect immunofluorescent test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), immunochromatographic tests (ICT), and the western blot. Nonetheless, creating specific and reliable approaches for serodiagnosis of T. gondii infection, and differentiating between acute and chronic phases of infection remains a challenge. This review provides information on the current trends in the serodiagnosis of human toxoplasmosis. It highlights the advantages of the use of recombinant proteins for serological testing and provides insight into the possible future direction of these methods.