The complement-fixation test in the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis. 1977

B H Kean, and A C Kimball

We present serologic results on 26 patients with congenital toxoplasmosis and on 22 of their mothers. The infection was severe (central nervous system involvement) in 12 patients, 12 had only ocular manifestations, and two were asymptomatic. The dye test results were positive on all specimens, and were positive at a titer of 1:1,024 or higher if collected from patients younger than 2 years of age. The complement-fixation test (CFT) results were positive on all specimens from patients younger than 2 years of age and on 69% of specimens collected from older patients. These serologic results are contrasted with those obtained on two control groups: (1) 46 uninfected infants followed up after birth because of substantial antibody titers in their mothers during pregnancy; and (2) 190 infants and children tested because toxoplasmosis was tentatively included in the differential diagnosis of the current illness. In both control groups the positive results on the CFT were limited almost exclusively to cord blood specimens or specimens collected during the first 2 weeks of life. Lower CFT titers in follow-up specimens suggested that the antibodies were maternal in origin. These two tests are valuable in providing laboratory support for the diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis, particularly the test for the comparatively short-lived complement-fixing antibody.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D008431 Maternal-Fetal Exchange Exchange of substances between the maternal blood and the fetal blood at the PLACENTA via PLACENTAL CIRCULATION. The placental barrier excludes microbial or viral transmission. Transplacental Exposure,Exchange, Maternal-Fetal,Exposure, Transplacental,Maternal Fetal Exchange
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011251 Pregnancy Complications, Infectious The co-occurrence of pregnancy and an INFECTION. The infection may precede or follow FERTILIZATION. Complications, Infectious Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complications,Maternal Sepsis,Pregnancy, Infectious Complications,Sepsis during Pregnancy,Sepsis in Pregnancy,Infectious Pregnancy Complication,Pregnancy Complication, Infectious,Sepsis in Pregnancies,Sepsis, Maternal
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D003168 Complement Fixation Tests Serologic tests based on inactivation of complement by the antigen-antibody complex (stage 1). Binding of free complement can be visualized by addition of a second antigen-antibody system such as red cells and appropriate red cell antibody (hemolysin) requiring complement for its completion (stage 2). Failure of the red cells to lyse indicates that a specific antigen-antibody reaction has taken place in stage 1. If red cells lyse, free complement is present indicating no antigen-antibody reaction occurred in stage 1. Complement Absorption Test, Conglutinating,Conglutination Reaction,Conglutinating Complement Absorption Test,Complement Fixation Test,Conglutination Reactions,Fixation Test, Complement,Fixation Tests, Complement,Reaction, Conglutination,Reactions, Conglutination,Test, Complement Fixation,Tests, Complement Fixation
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man

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