How to estimate time of infection with Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women. Use of specific IgG and IgM kinetics by 7 techniques on 691 sera

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2020 Apr;96(4):114987. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2020.114987. Epub 2020 Jan 15.

Abstract

A difficulty when detecting both anti-Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG and IgM in pregnant women is estimating the date of infection. The aim of this study was to compare the anti-Toxoplasma-specific immunoglobulin kinetics of 7 serological techniques to date the infection and to draw kinetic curves that are easy to use on a daily basis. IgG and IgM antibodies were measured on 691 sera samples. IgM appeared a few days, less than 1 week, after the beginning of the infection. Then, the levels of IgM reached a peak at approximately 3, 4, and 5 weeks with Toxo-ISAGA® IgM, IgM homemade indirect immunofluorescence assays, and Vidas Toxo® IgM, respectively. Furthermore, the Architect Toxo® IgG titers were higher than those of the Vidas Toxo® IgG results in recent infection (less than 6 months). This study provides new average IgM and IgG curves that can help to determine the approximate date of infection.

Keywords: Congenital toxoplasmosis; Date of infection; Pregnant women.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Protozoan / blood*
  • Antibody Affinity
  • Chronic Disease
  • Female
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect / methods
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood*
  • Immunoglobulin M / blood*
  • Kinetics
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / diagnosis
  • Pregnant Women
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Serologic Tests / methods*
  • Time Factors
  • Toxoplasma
  • Toxoplasmosis / diagnosis*
  • Toxoplasmosis / immunology

Substances

  • Antibodies, Protozoan
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M