IgA antibody response during acquired and congenital toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasma gondii specific IgA and IgM antibodies were quantitated by an antibody capture agglutination assay in 260 patients with acquired toxoplasmosis and from 94 fetuses suspected of congenital toxoplasmosis and 30 infected children. In acquired toxoplasmosis, IgA antibodies to T gondii were found in 95% of the cases. In congenital toxoplasmosis IgA antibodies were more frequently detected (75%) in cord blood than IgM antibodies (61%). They persisted after birth, in some cases for up to 24 months. IgA antibodies were also detected in fetuses whose mothers had toxoplasmosis during their pregnancy. In infected fetuses IgM and IgA antibodies were detected in fetal blood as early as week 24 of pregnancy. Detection of IgA T gondii antibodies may be useful for the diagnosis of some recently acquired infection and for the diagnosis and follow up of the infection in the fetus and neonate.