DOT-ELISA FOR HUMAN LEPTOSPIROSIS EMPLOYING IMMUNODOMINANT ANTIGEN

A dot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay which uses a proteinase-K resi stant antigen (PK-Dot-ELISA) to detect antileptospiral IgM antibodies was compared to the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). The assay wa s evaluated in serum samples from patients with leptospirosis (n=89), typhoid fever (n=10), malaria (n=19), syphilis (n=20), hepatitis (n=16 ) and clinically healthy individuals (n=92). The PK-Dot-ELISA presente d a sensitivity of 92.1% and a specificity of 97.5%. The overall resul ts of the PK-Dot-ELISA were similar to those of the MAT. However, the PK-Dot-ELISA was capable of detecting antibody activity in 43% of acut e-phase sera which were negative by the MAT. Our data suggest that PK- Dot-ELISA can be used as an important portable field serodiagnostic as say for acute leptospirosis.