SEROLOGICAL TESTING FOR CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS WITH SERA FORWARDED FOR SALMONELLA AND YERSINIA SEROLOGY

Single serum specimens forwarded for Salmonella and Yersinia serology, from a total of 250 patients, were tested for anti-C. jejuni antibodi es of the IgG class. Anti-Salmonella and anti-Y. enterocolitica O3 ant ibodies were examined by a microagglutination test and anti-C. jejuni antibodies by ELISA against a C. jejuni ultrasonicate before (ELISA) a nd after neutralization of antibodies which crossreacted with Helicoba cter pylori antigens (ELISA-Abs). Blood donor sera (n=50) and sera (n= 40) from patients with various infectious diseases served as controls. A positive test for anti-Salmonella antibodies was recorded in 4/250 (1.6%) of the patients, for anti-Yersinia antibodies in 7/250 (2.8%), and for anti-C. jejuni antibodies in 7/250 (2.8%) in the ELISA; in 25/ 250 (10%) in the ELISA-Abs. No mixed infection was recorded by the ser ological testing. The ELISA-Abs showed a diagnostic specificity of 97. 7%. Our results support the inference that diagnostic serology for ent eropathogenic bacteria should include serology for C. jejuni, preferab ly by tests which exclude participation by antibodies which cross-reac t with H. pylori antigens.