EVALUATION OF SOME SEROLOGICAL TESTS IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF TOXOPLASMOSIS

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common pathogenic parasites of humans infecting 30 to 50% of the world population with a worldwide distribution, especially in tropical and sub-tropical zones where humidity is suitable for the organism. Stray cats play an imp011ant role in transmission of the disease to humans. The organism IS an obligate intracellular pathogen and most likely is carried via blood stream within infected leukocytes, but donnant cysts have been observed within most tissues of the body of infected persons. The most common and least invasive diagnostic methods for detecting toxoplasmosis are now antibody-based serological tests The present work concentrated upon the evaluation of different

serological commonly used tests used for serodiagnosis of toxoplasmosis in our locality. These tests include: !-Latex agglutination test (for estimation of total lg antibodies)

2-Indirect haemagglutination test (for detection of lgG antibodies).

3-ELISA (for detection of both lgG and IgM antibodies).

4- Immuno-Comb test (for detection of both IgG and IgM

antibodies).

The results of the study proved that Latex agglutination test gave the highest percentage of seropositivity (61.1%), followed by IgG ELISA test which gave (58.3%), while indirect haemagglutination test gave a positive result of (55.6%). IgM ELISA seropositivity was (52.8%).The immuno-comb test gave seropositivity of (52.8%) for IgM antibodies and (55.6%) for IgG antibodies.