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PubMed1999

Salmonella level of Danish swine herds based on serological examination of meat-juice samples and Salmonella occurrence measured by bacteriological follow-up.

Analyses of data collected in the Danish Salmonella Control Program in swine herds were conducted to assess the association between bacteriological and serological findings (including the degree to which changing serological status over time modulated the relationship) and to assess the degree to which type of swine operation and age group affected the relationship between bacteriological and serological findings. Although serological status was significantly associated with bacteriological prevalence of salmonella enterica in swine herds, the association was clarified by adding information on the change in serological status over time and the age group being tested. Salmonella infection assessed by serological tests at a single time-point and data on age group tested would allow better targeting and managing control programs.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Evaluation of vaccination programs through serological studies and distributed vaccines].

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare vaccination coverage in schoolchildren for the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) triple vaccines, and the poliomyelitis vaccine based on: a) vaccines distributed to vaccination centers; b) reported vaccination history, and c) serological analysis of antibodies. METHODS: Vaccination coverage was calculated on the basis of vaccination history collected by questionnaire, and by serological analysis of antibodies against measles for the MMR vaccine and against tetanus for the DTP vaccine in a representative sample of schoolchildren in 2001. The vaccination coverage from vaccination registries was obtained by dividing the number of individuals who could have completed their vaccinations by the target population. The concordance between the vaccination history and serological analysis was evaluated using the kappa test. RESULTS: The vaccination coverage obtained by questionnaire in schoolchildren aged 6-8 and 9-11 years was 85.5 and 87.6% for the DTP vaccine, 89.9 and 89.6% for the MMR vaccine, and 90.4 and 89.4% for the poliomyelitis vaccine, respectively, while the vaccination coverage obtained by serological analysis was 100 and 99.6% for the DTP vaccine and 85.5 and 93.3% for the MMR vaccine, respectively. The vaccination coverages obtained from distributed vaccines were significantly higher: 93.5 and 100% for the DTP vaccine, 96.3 and 98.8% for the MMR vaccine and 100% for the poliomyelitis vaccine. A low concordance was obtained between the vaccination history and serological analysis of antibodies (kappa < 0.2). CONCLUSION: Planning and evaluation of vaccination programs should be based on vaccination coverages obtained from serological analysis of antibodies in representative samples of schoolchildren.

Child↗
PubMed2002

Use of a nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR) to detect Trypanosoma cruzi in blood samples from chronic chagasic patients and patients with doubtful serologies.

Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important endemic illness in Latin America. Serologic tests for T. cruzi detection in blood are sensitive, but their specificity is unsatisfactory. Direct detection of parasites in blood, either by xenodiagnosis or hemoculture, is highly specific but of low sensitivity. Molecular assays such as the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which amplifies certain repetitive sequences of nuclear DNA has been used as a good alternative tool for T. cruzi detection in human blood. The present study aimed to test PCR diagnosis in chagasic chronic patients and doubtful serologic patients attended in GEDOCH (Chagas Disease Study Group/UNICAMP, Brazil). A 149 bp fragment originated from nuclear DNA was specifically detected in chronic chagasic patients. The results of these tests were compared with serologic diagnosis performed using standard techniques and xenodiagnosis. We found that 43 out of 50 patients previously serodiagnosed as chagasic were positive using the N-PCR method. Thirteen of 30 patients with doubtful serologic results were confirmed as positive by N-PCR. Our results suggest that the N-PCR may be a complementary tool to serology in the diagnosis of Chagas disease, and that it is usefull for parasite detection in patients with chronic disease and patients with doubtful serologic results.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Evaluation of a serological Salmonella mix-ELISA for poultry used in a national surveillance programme.

A Mix-ELISA using lipopolysaccharide antigens from Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis and Typhimurium was evaluated using samples collected over time in the Danish salmonella surveillance programme for poultry. Serological samples (n = 42,813) taken from broiler-breeder flocks after a year of bacteriological monitoring with negative results were used for calculating the flock and individual test specificities, which were 0.997 and 0.999, respectively. Layer flocks from the table egg sector were used for calculation of positive predictive values. In the survey, flocks were examined for salmonella by Mix-ELISA and by faecal culture, and in case of a positive result in either of these a repeated, serological testing was performed, and 60 animals were organ-cultured. If one of these samplings was positive, the flock was declared salmonella infected. In a period of 3 months, 35 flocks were found to be positive in the routine samples. Of these, 32 were serologically positive, 2 both serologically and faecally positive and 1 flock only faecally positive. For flocks serologically positive in the surveillance programme, a positive-predictive value of 0.62 for organ culture positivity was found, and while considering serological follow-up samples, the value was 0.95.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

HLA Class I typing of volunteers for a bone marrow registry: QC analysis by DNA-based methodology identifies serological typing discrepancies in the assignment of HLA-A and B antigens.

Until recently, the majority of newly recruited volunteer donors were typed for HLA-A and -B by serology onto the National Marrow Donor Program Registry. Quality control of this serological typing performed by contracted laboratories was carried out by retesting approximately 1% of each laboratory's test volume utilizing DNA-based techniques (SSOP). The criteria used for selection included samples presumed to be homozygotes, samples with split antigen specificities and samples with antigens considered to be difficult to define. Out of 1983 samples analyzed, 156 HLA-A (3.9%) and 265 HLA-B (6.7%) locus discrepancies were identified. Review of these discrepancies by both the serological and QC laboratory revealed that the majority of discrepancies were due to errors in serological typing. Serological discrepancies were categorized as follows: blank antigens identified (36.8%) and misassignments (63.2%). Misassignments were defined as either the incorrect assignment of antigens within a group ("wrong split"), or a complete misassignment. Antigens reported as blanks most frequently belonged to the A19 and A28 groups and to the B70, 46 and 40 groups. The most frequent misassignments within groups were the A19 and A10 groups, and the B40 and B15 groups. Other HLA-A misassignments included A2 vs A28 or A2 vs A69, while other HLA-B misassignments included B35 and B70. This QC analysis showed that serological typing of class I antigens for the purposes of NMDP registry typing is prone to a significant error rate. Careful evaluation and selection of contracted laboratories by the NMDP suggests methodological limitations rather than poor performance as the main cause of these observations.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

Helicobacter pylori serology and the management of young dyspeptics: a UK survey of gastroenterologists and general practitioners with an interest in gastroenterology.

AIM: To survey the current use of Helicobacter pylori serology for pre-endoscopy screening and management of young dyspeptics amongst gastroenterologists and general practitioners with an interest in gastroenterology in the United Kingdom. METHODS: A postal questionnaire was sent to 536 members of the British Society of Gastroenterology and 164 members of the Primary Care Society in Gastroenterology. RESULTS: Of those who responded (66%), 25% of general practitioners and 17% of gastroenterologists were using H. pylori serology as a screening test for young dyspeptics. General practitioners and gastroenterologists differed in their use of serology to guide management strategies (P < 0.0003): general practitioners eradicate infection from sero-positive patients prior to endoscopy (92%), whilst the majority of gastroenterologists endoscope sero-positive patients before treatment (55%). More gastroenterologists (89%) would re-test all or selected patients to assess eradication compared to general practitioners (45%). 106 different drug regimes were being used as first line treatment. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori serology as a pre-endoscopy screening test for young dyspeptic patients was used by only a fifth of respondents. There were wide variations in attitudes and practice in the way H. pylori serology was used in the management of young dyspeptics. Trials comparing clinical outcome and cost-effectiveness of different serology-based strategies are needed.

Adult↗
PubMed2002

Role of Helicobacter pylori serology in atrophic body gastritis after eradication treatment.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that 50% of patients with atrophic body gastritis have positive Helicobacter pylori antibody titres only. In atrophic body gastritis, a decrease in H. pylori antibodies after eradication treatment has been reported, suggesting that serology may indicate an active H. pylori infection. AIM: To investigate the time course of H. pylori antibodies and gastric inflammation after eradication treatment in patients with atrophic body gastritis, and to determine whether serology alone can be considered as a valid tool to assess the efficacy of eradication treatment in patients with atrophic body gastritis. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with atrophic body gastritis (12 serologically H. pylori-positive only, ABG-S+; 15 H. pylori-positive at histology and serology, ABG-H+) were included in the treatment group, and 17 patients (all ABG-S+) in the no treatment group. All patients had gastroscopy plus biopsies evaluated according to the updated Sydney system and H. pylori immunoglobulin G determination: in the treatment group, at baseline and 6 and 24 months after eradication (bismuth-based triple regimens); in the no treatment group, at baseline and after 3 years. RESULTS: In the treatment group, in ABG-S+ patients, H. pylori antibodies decreased significantly 6 months after treatment [37.5 U/mL (16-100 U/mL) vs. 15 U/mL (0--100 U/mL), P < 0.01], but 2 years after treatment no further decrease occurred. In addition, in ABG-H+ patients, a significant decrease in H. pylori antibodies occurred 6 months after treatment [45 U/mL (12.5-100 U/mL) vs. 31 U/mL (0-65 U/mL), P < 0.01], but a further decrease was also observed 2 years after treatment [20 U/mL (0-56 U/mL), P < 0.01]. In ABG-S+ patients, no correlation was observed between the H. pylori antibodies and gastric inflammation score, whereas, in the ABG-H+ group, this correlation was extremely significant (r=0.5991, P < 0.0001). In the no treatment group, at follow-up, a significant decrease in H. pylori antibodies was observed [26 U/mL (15-100 U/mL) vs. 22 U/mL (0-53 U/mL), P < 0.05], but the gastric body inflammation remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that, in ABG-S+ patients after eradication treatment, serology does not keep in step with gastric inflammation. This suggests that, in patients with atrophic body gastritis, serology alone may not be valid for the assessment of the efficacy of eradication treatment.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

SPECT thallium-201 combined with Toxoplasma serology for the presumptive diagnosis of focal central nervous system mass lesions in patients with AIDS.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the utility of brain thallium-201 single photon emission computerized tomography (Tl-201 SPECT) combined with Toxoplasma serology for the diagnosis of focal CNS lesions in patients with AIDS. METHODS: Sixty-one consecutive HIV-infected patients with focal CNS lesion(s) on head computed tomography (CT) or MRI scan who underwent brain Tl-201 SPECT and serum Toxoplasma serology were evaluated, retrospectively. Thallium-201 uptake ratios were calculated by comparing lesion activity to contralateral scalp activity. Diagnoses were made by a combination of histology, serology, PCR, and empirical response to therapy. Toxoplasma serologies (IgG IFA) were compared in the patients with central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis and those without CNS toxoplasmosis. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were evaluable and a definitive diagnosis was made in 38 patients: toxoplasmosis (17), lymphoma (14), PML (three), Aspergillus (one), tuberculoma (one), Cryptococcus (one), varicella-zoster virus (one). Patients with lymphoma had significantly higher lesion/contralateral scalp ratios compared to patients without lymphoma: 1.03 vs. 0.67, P < 0.05. Using a cut-off of 0.90 for the lesion/scalp uptake ratios (based on analysis of ROC curves) the sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of lymphoma were 86% and 83%, respectively. Serum Toxoplasma IgG titres were significantly higher in patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis compared to those with a diagnosis other than toxoplasmosis, 1:5444 vs. 1:15, P < 0.05. Only one patient with confirmed toxoplasmosis had a Toxoplasma serology < 1:256, while no patients without toxoplasmosis (including all lymphoma patients) had serologies > 1:256. CONCLUSIONS: In a series of HIV-infected patients, Tl-201 SPECT was able to accurately differentiate primary brain lymphoma from other causes of focal CNS lesions in most patients; however, both false positive and false negative results occurred. By combining Tl-201 SPECT with serum Toxoplasma IgG, diagnostic accuracy was improved.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2000

Diagnostic value of Epstein-Barr viral serology in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Although Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) IgA serology has been established as an effective marker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), it remains unclear how useful or cost-effective it is as a screening test. This article is aimed at establishing how these tests could be used most effectively in the diagnosis of NPC in an otolaryngology outpatient clinic. A total of 111 consecutive patients with NPC and an equal number of control subjects were studied. Forty-seven patients with NPC had early (AJCC stages 1 and 2) and 64 had advanced (stages 3 and 4) disease. A positive early antigen (EA) serology result was found in 81.2% of NPC patients and in none of the controls. Negative EA and viral capsid antigen (VCA) serology results were present in 2.7% of NPC patients and in 46.8% of controls. Negative EA and positive VCA serology results were found in 30.0% of NPC patients with early disease, 7.8% of NPC patients with advanced disease, and 53.2% of controls. Given its high specificity, serology for EA is recommended as a clinically useful screening test. Serology for VCA, although highly sensitive, has an unacceptably high false-positive rate, and its cost-effectiveness as a universal screening test is questionable.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

A comparative study of HLA-DRB1 typing by standard serology and hybridization of non-radioactive sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes to PCR-amplified DNA.

A double-blind study was carried out to evaluate the relative performance and reliability of the PCR/SSOP assay compared to conventional serological typing in identifying HLA-DR alleles. A total of 268 consecutive samples were entered into the study. In 14 (5.2%) of the cases, HLA-DR serology could not be performed due to poor cell viability, while in seven (2.6%) of the cases, PCR/SSOP typing could not be performed due to poor amplification or to contamination with exogenous DNA. Among samples that were successfully typed by both methods, serologic typing correctly identified 455/465 (97.9%) DR antigens, while PCR/SSOP correctly identified 464/465 (99.8%) DR alleles (p = 0.0117, McNemar's test). The majority of discrepancies in serologic typing resulted from a lack of discriminative alloantisera to identify DR6 or DR103. For the overall sample set (N = 268), serology provided accurate results in 244 (91.0%) cases, while PCR/SSOP provided accurate results in 260 (97.0%) cases (p = 0.0037). The results of this study demonstrate that PCR/SSOP typing for HLA-DRB1 alleles provides results that are equal to or surpass serological typing for HLA-DR antigens. In addition, the PCR/SSOP approach offers the advantages of better reagent availability, lower cost, more rapid turn-around time, and greater accuracy, all of which would warrant its use as an HLA typing method of choice.

Alleles↗
PubMed1997

Accurate typing of HLA-A antigens and analysis of serological deficiencies.

We are reporting the results of HLA-A typing by PCR-SSOP complemented by PCR-SSP of samples obtained from the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP). These samples were a representative group from 2486 tested in duplicate by serology. A total of 390 samples gave HLA-A discrepant results. Comparing the molecular typing results of 238 samples (samples with available DNA) with the serological typing results, 54 homozygotes and 184 heterozygotes produced a total of 422 assignments by molecular methods. We found assignment discrepancies in 147/422 (35%) in laboratory 1 and 144/422 (34%) in laboratory 2 (a combined group of 4 NMDP laboratories; laboratory 1 is not included). The serological discrepancies found were of 3 categories: a) false negatives, b) incomplete typing (discrepancies due to the level of resolution within a cross-reactive or CREG group) and c) false positives. Major problems were identified using serology for typing HLA-A antigens: a) inability to identify all WHO-recognized specificities, more frequently in non-Caucasians or in HLA-A specificities known to be found more frequently in non-Caucasians for laboratory 1 and incorrect assignments of A19 specificities in laboratory 2, b) incorrect assignments in cells with poor viability and c) false-positive assignments in homozygotes. We propose a possible strategy to type HLA-A specificities with two steps: a) a minimum of serology for typing specificities for common CREG groups: A1, A2, A3, A11, A9, A10, A28, A19. However, a given laboratory can determine the level of serological assignments needed as a first step. And b) molecular methods to identify splits: A23, A24, A29, A30, A31, A32, A33, A34, A36, A66, A74 and A80. The technique described is useful for large-scale bone marrow donor typings for cells with poor viability, and for resolving ambiguous results including false-positive assignments of homozygous cells.

DNA↗
PubMed1986

Problems associated with the serological diagnosis of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo infection in bovine populations.

Data combining sequential bacteriology and serology from a longitudinal study of a dairy herd were used to demonstrate the limitations of serology as a diagnostic method in cross-sectional sampling of bovine populations. Whole-herd point serological prevalences showed considerable variation over a two-year sampling period (38.8 to 76.2 per cent), and this was mainly due to varying age-specific prevalence. Owing to the rapid decline in titres and the varying persistence of infection, point serological prevalences failed to approximate to cumulative infection rates (either past or present) at different times of the year. A higher estimate of the number of susceptible animals in the herd than is the case results in inaccurate information on true incidence rates and can confuse assessments of the susceptibility of different age groups, especially if only small numbers are sampled. A sampling exercise demonstrated that a 10-cow sample usually provided little useful information other than establishing the presence or absence of hardjo in the herd. Increasing the sample size markedly improved epidemiological information, investigations of clinical disease, assessments of vaccination needs and public health tracebacks. Preferably 10 sera from each of the yearling, first calver, second calver and older age groups should be tested. Serology was an inadequate indicator of infection in individual animals. Group geometric mean titres taken from a mean serological response curve were shown to have limited application in the interpretation of field data, unless infection had occurred in the previous two months.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The effectiveness of (IgG-ELISA) serology as an alternative diagnostic method for detecting Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastro-intestinal bleeding due to gastro-duodenal ulcer.

OBJECTIVES: To establish the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serology (IgG ELISA) as an alternative diagnostic method for Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastro-duodenal peptic ulcer and digestive hemorrhage. The diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in these patients is difficult due to the low sensitivity of invasive tests and the need to discontinue treatment with proton pump inhibitors to perform a breath test with urea 13C or the detection of Helicobacter pylori antigens in feces. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included 214 patients (164 men and 50 women) with an average age of 58 +/- 15 years, who were admitted to hospital due to upper gastro-intestinal bleeding caused by a gastro-duodenal peptic ulcer. The presence of Helicobacter pylori was established by means of gastric biopsy (fast urease test histology and/or culture) and a breath test with 13C-labeled urea. Serology was performed with the ELISA method (Pyloriset EIA-G by Orion Diagnostica). Positive Helicobacter pylori infection was accepted with any positive invasive method or breath test, and no infection was established if all invasive tests performed and the breath test with 13C-labeled urea were negative. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of serology in the global series and in different subgroups of patients according to age (> 60 and < 40 years), recent exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, type of endoscopic wound and history of gastro-duodenal peptic ulcer. RESULTS: 192 patients (89.7%) showed infection due to Helicobacter pylori. In the global series (n = 214) we obtained a sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 87.5, 54.5, 94.3 and 33.3%, respectively. Specificity was greater in the group not exposed to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (n = 110) as compared to the exposed group (n = 104), in the < 40 year old group (n = 28) with respect to the > 60 years group (n = 105), in the duodenal ulcer group (n = 141) with respect to the gastric ulcer group (n = 59), and in the group with a history of gastro-duodenal peptic ulcers (n = 92) as compared to the group without any of these past events (n = 122); nevertheless, no significant statistics were reached. CONCLUSIONS: IgG (ELISA) serology shows low specificity and a low negative predictive value in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection in patients with gastro-intestinal bleeding due to gastro-duodenal peptic ulcer. The diagnostic value of serology did not improve significantly when age, recent exposure to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, type of endoscopic wound or history of gastro-duodenal peptic ulcer was taken into consideration. We may consider that serology is not a good diagnostic method for the detection of Helicobacter pylori in patients with digestive hemorrhage caused by gastro-duodenal ulcer.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Clinically active serologically quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency and characteristics of clinical activity with serological quiescence (CASQ) in a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) followed prospectively at a single center. METHODS: Patients followed at the Lupus Clinic between 1991 and 1995 who on at least 3 consecutive visits had clinical activity in the absence of a low complement and elevated DNA binding were identified. Demographics, disease characteristics, and therapy for the CASQ periods, as well as prior and subsequent disease course until April 2002 were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 514 patients followed at the Lupus Clinic according to a standard protocol, 62 patients had at least one episode of CASQ lasting a 9.8 +/- 6.4 months. During these periods, patients showed evidence of clinical disease activity with a SLEDAI-2K of 8.9 +/- 5.3. Major organ involvement (central nervous system, renal, vasculitis) occurred in 43 patients. Forty-four patients were treated with prednisone 16.7 +/- 11.4 mg/day, 21 were on immunosuppressive medication and 30 on antimalarials. Of the 58 patients who had followup after their last CASQ defining visit, 9 remained CASQ for 39 +/- 23 months. Of the remaining 49 patients, 23 became inactive, 21 became clinically and serologically active, and 5 were serologically active but clinically quiescent (SACQ). CONCLUSION: Clinical laboratory correlation in SLE is a heterogeneous relationship. The majority of patients have clinical-serological concordance. The minority have discordance between clinical and serological status, and are either SACQ or CASQ. Therefore, monitoring both clinical and serological features in patients with SLE is important.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

[Diagnosis on Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections by DNA-probe assay in comparison with serological tests].

To evaluate the usefulness of DNA diagnosis as a diagnostic approach to Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections, we compared the DNA-probe assay with serological tests in 32 patients who were clinically suspected of having Mycoplasma pneumonia. The DNA-probe assay was carried out using the Gen-probe kit. Serological tests included complement fixation and passive hemagglutination tests. At first visit 10 patients were positive for the DNA-probe assay, while only 2 of them were positive for serological tests. The other 3 patients became positive for serological tests during the clinical course. In accordance with clinical improvement, these patients became negative for the DNA-probe assay. Three patients were negative for DNA-probe assay while they were positive for the serological tests. However, these patients had already received antibiotics; therefore, their conditions were considered to have been improved at the time of the study. The other 19 patients were negative for both the DNA-probe assay and serological tests. These patients might have suffered from respiratory tract infections of pathogenic organisms other than M. pneumoniae or the number of M. pneumoniae might have been too small to be detected by the DNA-probe assay. The results of the present work demonstrate that the DNA-probe assay was valuable in the diagnosis of mycoplasmal infections at the early stage, which indicates that DNA diagnosis provides useful information to determine the most appropriate therapeutic regimen.

Child↗
PubMed2006

Prospective study of a new serological test (ASSURE TB Rapid Test) for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively compare a rapid tuberculosis serological test, ASSURE TB Rapid Test, with traditional smear and culture methods for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). DESIGN: All consecutive in-patients aged > or = 18 years suspected of having active PTB and admitted between June 2001 and March 2003 were tested with three sputum samples for smear and culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and serology (done within 3 days). RESULTS: Of 238 patients initially enrolled (male: female 2.5:1, mean age 56.6 years), the final analysis included 216 patients. For the final diagnosis of PTB, the sensitivity and specificity of the serological test were respectively 60.2% (95%CI 50.5-69.1) and 82.3% (95%CI 74.2-88.2) compared to 53.4% (95%CI 43.8-62.7) and 98.2% (95%CI 93.8-99.5) for the smear test. A combination of smear and serology provided an increased sensitivity of 74.8% (95%CI 65.6-82.2), but a lower specificity of 80.5% (95%CI 72.3-86.8). CONCLUSION: The new serological test showed a moderate increase in sensitivity but a decrease in specificity compared to smear examination. The combination (smear + serology) test further increased the sensitivity while maintaining a moderate specificity.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Tools for rabies serology to monitor the effectiveness of rabies vaccination in domestic and wild carnivores.

Serology remains the only way to monitor the effectiveness of vaccination of humans and animals against rabies. Many techniques for determining the level of rabies antibodies have been described, including seroneutralisation techniques such as tests for fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation (FAVN) and rapid fluorescent focus inhibition (RFFIT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and in-vivo tests (the mouse neutralisation test, MNT). The need to verify the effectiveness of rabies vaccination has become widespread, particularly in the context of international trading of domestic carnivores from infected to rabies-free territories. The standardisation of serological techniques, approval of laboratories and proficiency tests are key concepts to ensure the practicability of such systems. Serological tests for rabies are also often used by laboratories in infected territories to assess the efficacy of campaigns aimed at the eradication of the disease via oral vaccination of wildlife. The adaptation of these methods should provide the means to titrate specific antibodies in dogs during mass parenteral vaccination in countries infected by canine rabies. However, in most cases these serological tests are carried without any standardised procedure. On the basis of our experience in rabies serology and its harmonisation throughout laboratories worldwide, we propose here an adapted standard technique for the serological monitoring for rabies in wildlife at the European level. Such harmonisation would allow the monitoring of vaccination campaigns to be enhanced by increasing the exchange of epidemiological data, with the ultimate goal being the eradication of rabies in Europe.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Serological markers of arthritis in patients with chronic viral hepatitis].

UNLABELLED: Wide range of different autoantibodies (e.g. rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, smooth muscle antibodies, anticardiolipin antibodies) can be detected in low titres in more than 70% of patients with chronic hepatitis. THE AIM OF THE STUDY: Prevalence of serological markers typical for rheumatic diseases in patients with chronic viral hepatitis was examined and the correlation between those markers and serum activity of liver enzymes was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 80 patients (30 female and 50 male aged 43.5 +/- 10 years) with chronic viral hepatitis hospitalized in Department of Internal Diseases and Rheumatology of Medical Military Institute in Warsaw were included in the study. 16 of patients were infected with hepatitis virus B, 60 with hepatitis virus C, 4 suffered from both infections. Blood morphology, ESR, CRP aminotransferases activity, protein and bilirubin levels were measured in every patient. Serological examination included levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANA), smooth muscle antibodies (SMA), LKM-1, antineutrophil antibodies (ANCA), anticardiolipin antibodies (aCL), antimitochondrial antibodies (AMA), circulating immunological complexes (CIC), cryoglobulins and rheumatoid factor. RESULTS: At least one serological marker was found in 60 (75%) patients. Latex fixation reaction was positive in 42 (54%), rheumatoid factor was present in 25 (31%), aCL in 28 (34%), pANCA in 22 (27%) and CIC in 16 (20%). Antibodies ANA, AMA, LKM-1 and cryoglobulins were less frequently observed (6%, 5.5% and 7% respectively). The presence of autoantibodies was more frequent in patients with hepatitis C (77% vs. 62%). AMA, LKM-1 and cryoglobulins were detected only in that group of patients. There was no correlation between liver enzymes activity and presence of serological markers of rheumatic diseases. CONCLUSIONS: Serological markers considered to be typical for rheumatic disorders were detected in 75% patients (especially in patients with HCV). There is no correlation between aminotransferases activity and tested serological.

Adult↗