A recombinant antigen-based IgG4 ELISA for the specific and sensitive detection of Brugia malayi infection

An IgG4 ELISA based on a novel recombinant antigen was evaluated for detection of Brugia malayi infection, using 2487 sera from various institutions: 2031 samples from Universiti Sains Malaysia, 276 blinded sera from 2 other institutions in Malaysia, 140 blinded sera from India and 40 blinded sera f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: N., Rahmah, Lim, B.H., Anuar, A.Khairul, Shenoy, R.K., Kumaraswami, V., Hakim, S.Lokman, Chotechuang, P., Kanjanopas, K., Ramachandran, C.P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Oxford University Press 2001
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111855/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/111855/3/111855.pdf
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Summary:An IgG4 ELISA based on a novel recombinant antigen was evaluated for detection of Brugia malayi infection, using 2487 sera from various institutions: 2031 samples from Universiti Sains Malaysia, 276 blinded sera from 2 other institutions in Malaysia, 140 blinded sera from India and 40 blinded sera from Thailand. These sera were from various groups of individuals, i.e., microfilaraemics, chronic patients, endemic normals, non-endemic normals and individuals with other parasitic and bacterial infections. Based on a cut-off optical density reading of 0.300, the IgG4 ELISA demonstrated specificity rates of 95·6–100%, sensitivity rates of 96–100%, positive predictive values of 75–100% and negative predictive values of 98·9–100%. These evaluation studies demonstrated the high specificity and sensitivity of this test for the detection of active B. malayi infection. Thus, the IgG4 ELISA would be very useful as a tool in diagnosis and in elimination programmes for brugian filariasis.