Use of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the early diagnosis ofMycoplasma pneumoniae infection

Abstract

IgM and IgG antibodies to Mycoplasma pneumoniae were measured in 147 sera from four groups of patients by means of an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the results compared with those obtained by other methods. A good correlation was demonstrated between the complement fixation test and ELISA-IgM and to a lesser extent ELISA-IgG; for the metabolic inhibition test the reverse was the case. The indirect haemagglutination test appeared to detect mainly IgM antibodies. Low levels of IgM antibodies were detected by ELISA in 60 sera of children not suffering from pneumonia. However, if only high titres (greater than 800) were regarded as indicative of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection, a presumptive diagnosis could have been made in 42 of 73 single acute phase sera from patients. Comparable results were obtained with IHA. The diagnostic level of IgM antibodies. was reached during the second week of the disease. It is concluded that examination of a single serum sample by either ELISA-IgM or IHA may assist in early diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection.

Evaluation of Four Commercial Immunoglobulin G (IgG)- and IgM-Specific Enzyme Immunoassays for Diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae Infections

“…CFT measures IgM and IgG antibodies together and has been shown to be both nonspecific and insensitive. Several EIAs have been developed in recent years; they include assays for the determination of both specific IgG and IgM or for IgG only and assays for IgM only (8,14,33,34,35). The -capture ELISA has previously been found to have a high sensitivity and specificity.…”

“…The conventional complement fixation test (CFT) using a glycolipid antigen gives unspecific reactions and lacks sensitivity (16,19). Alternative tests have recently been developed to obtain moreaccurate and prompt diagnosis: indirect enzyme immunoassay (EIA) measuring separately immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM class antibodies (8,14,27,33,35) and PCR for rapid and sensitive detection of M. pneumoniae in respiratory tract specimens (1,4,6,31,32,36). The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the performance of four commercially available EIAs for the detection of specific M. pneumoniae IgG and IgM antibodies in assessing the antibody response of suspected M. pneumoniae patients on the basis of PCR-positive results for M. pneumoniae in respiratory samples.…”

Demonstration of Cross‐Reactive Antibodies to Mycoplasmas in Human Sera by ELISA and Immunoblotting

“…antibody in a single serum sample or by significant rise in antibody titer in paired serum samples obtained during the acute and convalescent stages of the disease. Recently, ELISA has been accepted for serodiagnosis of M. pneumoniae infection (4,5,7,19,23,24). In the ELISA, as single serum dilution of 1: 100 has been most often used, the interpretation of the results is often difficult due to background readings.…”

“…These results suggested the existence of cross-reactive antibodies to mycoplasmas in human sera. Cross-reactive antibodies to M. pneumoniae and other mycoplasmas in the patients' sera were also demonstrated by Western blotting technique.The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used for routine serological diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection because of its high sensitivity and simplicity (4,5,7,19,23,24). But, as high background readings are often observed in the ELISA, the interpretation is often very difficult.…”

“…The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) has been used for routine serological diagnosis of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection because of its high sensitivity and simplicity (4,5,7,19,23,24). But, as high background readings are often observed in the ELISA, the interpretation is often very difficult.…”