Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A cost-effective protocol for screening patients for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

British journal of biomedical science·2011

Same author

Interpretation criteria in Western blot diagnosis of Lyme borreliosis.

British journal of biomedical science·2011

Same author

Is Tayside becoming a Scottish hotspot for Lyme borreliosis?

The journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh·2011

Same author

Urban and rural risks of Lyme disease in the Scottish Highlands.

Scottish medical journal·2009

Same author

Local Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto and Borrelia afzelii strains in a single mixed antigen improves western blot sensitivity.

Journal of clinical pathology·2009

Same author

Chlamydia infection among pregnant women and those seeking termination.

Journal of obstetrics and gynaecology : the journal of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology·2007

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 16, 2026

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

Published on: December 9, 2014

Strategies for detecting toxoplasma immunity.

D Ashburn¹, R Evans, J M W Chatterton

¹Scottish Toxoplasma Reference Laboratory, Microbiology Department, Raigmore Hospital, Inverness 1V2 3UJ. microbiology@haht.scot.nhs.uk

British Journal of Biomedical Science

|July 18, 2003

Summary

Identifying toxoplasma immunity requires careful testing strategies. Current screening methods may provide false reassurance or miss infections, necessitating further specific tests for pregnant and immunocompromised individuals.

More Related Videos

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

Published on: March 12, 2015

Determination of Chemical Inhibitor Efficiency against Intracellular Toxoplasma Gondii Growth Using a Luciferase-Based Growth Assay

Determination of Chemical Inhibitor Efficiency against Intracellular Toxoplasma Gondii Growth Using a Luciferase-Based Growth Assay

Published on: April 29, 2020

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 16, 2026

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

3-D Imaging and Analysis of Neurons Infected In Vivo with Toxoplasma gondii

Published on: December 9, 2014

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

Forward Genetics Screens Using Macrophages to Identify Toxoplasma gondii Genes Important for Resistance to IFN-γ-Dependent Cell Autonomous Immunity

Published on: March 12, 2015

Determination of Chemical Inhibitor Efficiency against Intracellular Toxoplasma Gondii Growth Using a Luciferase-Based Growth Assay

Determination of Chemical Inhibitor Efficiency against Intracellular Toxoplasma Gondii Growth Using a Luciferase-Based Growth Assay

Published on: April 29, 2020

Area of Science:

Immunology
Clinical Diagnostics
Infectious Diseases

Background:

Accurate identification of toxoplasma immunity is crucial for managing pregnant women and immunocompromised patients.
Existing screening strategies must balance sensitivity and specificity to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure appropriate patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

To evaluate the performance of an in-house IgG enzyme immunoassay (EIA) and two commercial assays (Abbott AxSYM Toxo-G, Eiken latex test) against the dye test for toxoplasma immunity screening.
To assess the suitability of these assays for identifying immunity in pregnant and immunocompromised patient groups.

Main Methods:

Sera from pregnant and immunocompromised patients were tested using an in-house IgG EIA, Abbott AxSYM Toxo-G, Eiken latex test, and the gold standard dye test.
Comparative analysis of false-positive and false-negative rates across the different assays.

Main Results:

The IgG EIA and Abbott AxSYM Toxo-G produced false-positive results.
All three screening tests (IgG EIA, AxSYM Toxo-G, Eiken latex) yielded false negatives.
Positive results from screening tests may falsely reassure pregnant patients, highlighting the need for toxoplasma-specific IgM testing.
In immunocompromised patients, negative screening results do not exclude infection and require confirmation with the dye test.

Conclusions:

Current screening assays for toxoplasma immunity have limitations, including false positives and negatives.
Specific testing protocols are recommended for pregnant (IgM testing) and immunocompromised (dye test confirmation) individuals.
Despite limitations, immunity screening for toxoplasmosis can be implemented within a district general hospital setting.