Combination of ELISA and RT-PCR tests in the diagnosis of toxoplasmic infection in aborted women and congenitally infected infants.

Abstract

The diagnosis of toxoplasmic infection in aborted women and congenitally infected infants suspected to have toxoplasmosis infection can be difficult due to similarity symptoms with other diseases. A combination of symptoms, serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)may facilitate diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in some patients. The present study compare the detection of toxoplasmosis infection by ELISA IgA and IgG antibodies with Real Time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)in the study subjects. A total of 81 sera samples, 57(70.3%) samples from aborted women and 24(29.7%)samples from congenitally infants have been studied. 49(86%) samples from the aborted women were positive and 8(14%) samples were negative as diagnosed by one or two of ELISA markers (IgAand IgG).The ELISA results indicated that 15(62.5%) samples from infants were positive and 9(37.5%) samples of them were negative. RT-PCR tests indicated that 33(67.3%) from the mothers and 6(40%) from the infants were agreed with ELISA positive samples. For ELISA negative samples, RT-PCR detected toxoplasmosis DNA in 4 (50%) and 2 (22.2%) for the mothers and infants respectively. Therefore, ELISA and RT-PCR can make a good combination tests in detection toxoplasmopsis infection.