Comparison of a Commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) with the Modified Agglutination Test (MAT) for the Detection of Antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in a Cohort of Hunting Dogs

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease, caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, affecting most warm-blooded animals. Assessing the seroprevalence of T. gondii in different animal species gives a good estimate of the global circulation of the parasite and the risk for human infections. However, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in dogs is not studied as much as other species, despite their close contact with wildlife and humans in rural or urban environments and evidence that dogs can also be a potential source for human contaminations. A commercial enzyme-inked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies in sera of hunting dogs potentially naturally infected, was compared to the modified agglutination test (MAT), used as the reference method. The ELISA presented a sensitivity of 76.5% (CI 95%: 60.0–87.6) and a specificity of 87.7% (CI 95%: 76.7–93.9) and a substantial agreement with the MAT for the detection of canine anti-T. gondii antibodies. Both tests can therefore be used widely for epidemiology studies on T. gondii infections in dogs. With a mean seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in hunting dogs from northern Algeria of 36.8% (CI 95%: 34.9–38.7), this study also highlights the importance of T. gondii seroprevalence studies in companion animals to assess infectious risk for human populations.

Identification of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> in wild rodents in Poland by molecular and serological techniques

“…Modified agglutination test (MAT) and ELISA are highly specific methods widely used for the detection of antibodies to T. gondii, and applicable for serological diagnosis of infection as well as in epidemiological studies. Several authors compared ELISA and agglutination test for the detection of T. gondii and declared lower specificity and sensitivity of MAT than that of ELISA [34,35]. Moreover, the agglutination test can detect only IgG antibodies, while goat Anti-Mouse Polyvalent Immunoglobulins (G, A, M) used for ELISA in the presented study, is capable to detect three classes of antibodies, IgG, IgM and IgA.…”

Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in invasive wild boars (Sus scrofa) and hunting dogs from Brazil

“…Additionally, Caramalac et al (2021) observed seroprevalence rates of 35.9% for T. gondii and 15.4% for N. caninum in Mato Grosso do Sul. Furthermore, the seroprevalence of antibodies against both parasites in hunting dogs in this study exceeded rates reported in studies from other regions of the world: 19.6% for T. gondii using the latex agglutination test in Taiwan ( Fan et al, 1998 ); 15% for N. caninum and 24% for T. gondii using IFAT in Spain ( Machačová et al, 2016 ); 52.8% for T. gondii using the modified agglutination test in Spain and Africa ( Cano-Terriza et al, 2016 ); and a mean of 36.8% for T. gondii using ELISA and modified agglutination test in Algeria ( Bellatreche et al, 2022 ).…”

Diagnostic Tools for Zoonotic Infections

“…To find antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii in a cohort of hunting dogs, researchers used an ELISA with the modified agglutination test (MAT) (Bellatreche et al 2022) Radioimmunoassay An antigen or antibody that has been radiolabeled binds to it, such as when it is connected to the solid phase.…”