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Duration of the IgM response in women acquiring Toxoplasma gondii during pregnancy: implications for clinical practice and cross-sectional incidence studies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2004

L. GRAS ,
R. E. GILBERT ,
M. WALLON ,
F. PEYRON  and
M. CORTINA-BORJA
L. GRAS
Affiliation:
Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
R. E. GILBERT
Affiliation:
Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
M. WALLON
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Exotique, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon, France
F. PEYRON
Affiliation:
Laboratoire de Parasitologie et de Pathologie Exotique, Hôpital de la Croix Rousse, Lyon, France
M. CORTINA-BORJA
Affiliation:
Centre for Paediatric Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
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Abstract

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We followed up a cohort of 446 toxoplasma-infected pregnant women to determine the median and variability of the duration of positive toxoplasma–IgM (immunoglobulin M) results measured by an immunofluorescence test (IFT) and an immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA). IgM antibodies were detected for longer using the ISAGA test [median 12·8 months, interquartile range (IQR) 6·9–24·9] than the IFT (median 10·4, IQR 7·1–14·4), but the variability between individuals in the duration of IgM positivity was greatest for the ISAGA test. IgM-positive results persisted beyond 2 years in a substantial minority of women (27·1% ISAGA, 9·1% IFT). Variation in the duration of the IgM response measured by ISAGA and IFT limit their usefulness for predicting the timing of infection in pregnant women. However, measurement of IgM and IgG antibodies in a cross-sectional serosurvey offers an efficient method for estimating the incidence of toxoplasma infection.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 132 , Issue 3 , June 2004 , pp. 541 - 548
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press