A recombinant antigen-based IgG4 ELISA for the specific and sensitive detection of Brugia malayi infection.

Rahmah, N., Lim, B.H., Khairul Anuar, A., Shenoy, R.K., Kumaraswami, V., Lokman Hakim, S., Chotechuang, P., Kanjanopas, K., Ramachandran, C.P.

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene; 2001; 95; 280-284.

An IgG4 ELISA based on a novel recombinant antigen was evaluated for detection of Brugia malayi infection, using 2487 sera from various institutions: 2031 samples from Universiti Sains Malaysia, 276 blinded sera from 2 other institutions in Malaysia, 140 blinded sera from India and 40 blinded sera from Thailand. These sera were from various groups of individuals, i.e. microfilaraemics, chronic patients, endemic normals, non-endemic normals and individuals with other parasitic and bacterial infections. Based on a cut-off optical density reading of 0.300, the IgG4 ELISA demonstrated specificity rates of 95.6-100%, sensitivity rates of 96-100%, positive predictive values of 75-100% and negative predictive values of 98.9-100%. These evaluation studies demonstrated the high specificity and sensitivity of this test for the detection of active B. malay i infection. Thus, the IgG4 ELISA would be very useful as a tool in diagnosis and in elimination programmes for brugian filariasis.

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