Search

Serum samples from 702 persons were examined for Toxoplasma-specific IgM-antibodies using the immunosorbent agglutination assay (ISAGA) and the immunofluorescence-test (IIFT). 250 samples showed a positive reaction in the Sabin-Feldman-test (SFT) with titers greater than or equal to 1: 1 024, 58% were positive in ISAGA and 36% in the IIFT. Samples of persons with acute Toxoplasma-infection, showed high titers in the ISAGA and SFT as well, even in cases where the IgM-IIFT was negative. SFT-negative sera and others with weakly-positive reactions and also rheuma-positive samples were negative in the ISAGA. It is discussed how far it is possible to determine the duration of the Toxoplasma infection by applying the ISAGA in combination with other antibody tests.

Serum samples of humans and animals with Trichinella infection of different duration and severity were analysed for Trichinella antibodies by four different serological methods. The indirect immunofluorescence test and the indirect haemagglutination test proved to be the most sensitive ones. Complement-fixation reaction gave the poorest results. In fresh Trichinella infections the heterologous antibody against cercaria of S. mansoni was more strongly developed than the homologous antibody which is effective in the microprecision test on Trichinella larvae. Although the animals deliberately infected also had, at the beginning of infection, a marked reaction to cercaria, this test became negative earlier than the microprecipitation test. Differentiation of Trichinella from Schistosoma infections is serologically possible without difficulty by means of adult schistosomes. The cross-reaction observed between T. spiralis and various Filaria types can be differentiated with adult O. volvulus as antigen.