ENZYME-LINKED-IMMUNOSORBENT-ASSAY (ELISA) USING A GLYCOLIPID ANTIGEN FOR THE SERODIAGNOSIS OF MELIOIDOSIS

The serodiagnosis of melioidosis is commonly performed with tests usin g protein or polysaccharide as antigen. However, due to the low sensit ivity, specificity and difficulty in the preparation of the antigens, more simple, precise and reproducible diagnostic tests were required. A purified glycolipid antigen (GL) which is a specific lipid component of Burkholderia pseudomallei has been used in an ELISA. With this ant igen, specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) was detected in 49 out of 50 mel ioidosis sera. IgG was also detected in 2 out of 185 (Japanese) and 16 out of 181 (Vietnamese) control sera. Thus, the sensitivity was 98.0% , and specificity was 98.9% and 91.1% in the Japanese and Vietnamese s era, respectively. When the ELISA and indirect haemagglutination (IHA) tests were combined, a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 97.8% w ere achieved. The advantages of the glycolipid antigen are ease of pre paration, stability, high sensitivity and specificity.