Enzyme immunoassay detection of antigen-specific immunoglobulin g antibodies in longitudinal serum samples from patients with cryptosporidiosis

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2001 Mar;8(2):415-23. doi: 10.1128/CDLI.8.2.415-423.2001.

Abstract

Cryptosporidium parvum is a protozoan parasite that causes diarrheal illness in a wide range of mammalian hosts, including humans. Characteristic serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody responses to antigens in the 27- and 17-kDa size ranges have been shown to develop after infection, and several enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot assay formats have been used to measure these IgG levels in human serum. Using a collection of serial samples from laboratory-confirmed cryptosporidiosis patients, we compared the results obtained by using two new ELISAs with those obtained with two different Western blot assays. When assayed with the large-format Western blot, 97% of the 67 patients had a demonstrable antibody response on at least one occasion. The Cp23 ELISA correctly identified 93% of the samples that had a 27-kDa response by Western blot and 100% of the negative samples. The Triton antigen ELISA detected 77% of the samples that had a 17-kDa response by Western blot and 88% of the negative samples. The sensitivity of the Triton antigen assay was higher for samples collected between 16 and 92 days after the onset of symptoms (96%). The minigel-format Western blot did not compare favorably with the large-format blot for the detection of antibodies to the 27-kDa antigen (71% sensitivity). A half-life of about 12 weeks was estimated for antibodies to both the 27- and 17-kDa antigens. We believe the Cp23 and Triton antigen ELISAs will be useful in epidemiologic studies of the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in the population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Protozoan / analysis*
  • Antigens, Protozoan / immunology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cryptosporidiosis / diagnosis*
  • Cryptosporidiosis / epidemiology
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / immunology*
  • Cryptosporidium parvum / isolation & purification
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Seroepidemiologic Studies

Substances

  • Antigens, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G