Immunoglobulin M-immunosorbent agglutination assay for diagnosis of infectious diseases: diagnosis of acute congenital and acquired Toxoplasma infections

Abstract

An immunoglobulin M (IgM)-immunosorbent agglutination assay (IgM-IS-AGA) was negative in all sera from individuals negative in the Sabin-Feldman dye test, in sera from individuals with chronic Toxoplasma infection, and in cord blood samples from uninfected infants. In contrast, all sera that were obtained from individuals with a recent history of acute Toxoplasma infection and from infants with congenital Toxoplasma infection and that were positive in both the dye test and the IgM-indirect fluorescent-antibody (IgM-IFA) test were positive in IgM-ISAGA. A total of 21 (67.7%) of 31 sera that were negative in the IgM-IFA test, despite being obtained from individuals with recently acquired Toxoplasma infection, and 8 (72.7%) of 11 sera that were negative in the IgM-IFA test and obtained from infants with congenital Toxoplasma infection were positive in IgM-ISAGA. The presence of rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, or both did not cause false-positive results in the IgM-ISAGA but did so in the IgM-IFA test. Thus, IgM-ISAGA in both more sensitive and more specific than the IgM-IFA test for detection of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii and, therefore, for the diagnosis of acute congenital and acquired Toxoplasma infections.