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Laboratory diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection: 1. Direct detection of antigen in respiratory exudates by enzyme immunoassay.

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

T. W. Kok
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Virology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide and Department of Pathology, University of Adelaide.
G. Varkanis
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Virology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide and Department of Pathology, University of Adelaide.
B. P. Marmion*
Affiliation:
Division of Medical Virology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide and Department of Pathology, University of Adelaide.
J. Martin
Affiliation:
Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Adelaide Children's Hospital.
A. Esterman
Affiliation:
Epidemiology Branch, South Australian Health Commission, Adelaide.
*
*Please address correspondence and reprint requests to Professor B. P. Marmion, Medical Virology, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Box 14, Rundle Mall Post Office, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000.
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Direct and indirect antigen capture enzyme immunoassays (Ag-EIA) have been developed for the detection of Mycoplasma pneumoniae in nasopharyngeal aspirates or sputum from respiratory infection. The sensitivity of the two Ag-EIA were similar, but the indirect method using polyclonal rabbit and guinea-pig antisera was more convenient. The Ag-EIA had a detection limit of 104–4·5 colony-forming units/ml of sample. It was specific for M. pneumoniae and gave a low level response with M. genitalium. There were no cross-reactions with 10 other species of mycoplasmas. Tests with a wide range of bacteria and chlamydia group antigen, representing agents sometimes found in the respiratory tract, were also negative. At the current level of development, the Ag-EIA detected about 90% of specimens that were also positive for culture; 43% of specimens from culture-negative-seropositive patients gave a positive result. The overall pattern of results indicated that while antigen detection is a quick and effective substitute for the slow culture method, serological examination for specific IgM antibody is also necessary to give a complete diagnostic coverage.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

References

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