N. Anuntagool et al., IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIFIC ANTIGENS OF PSEUDOMONAS-PSEUDOMALLEI AND EVALUATION OF THEIR EFFICACIES FOR DIAGNOSIS OF MELIOIDOSIS, Journal of clinical microbiology, 31(5), 1993, pp. 1232-1236
Current methods for the diagnosis of melioidosis are based on bacterio
logical culture. A number of serological tests currently available lac
k specificity and sensitivity. This is largely due to the use of crude
antigens which results in a significant cross-reactivity with sera fr
om individuals infected with other bacteria. In this study five differ
ent antigens were prepared and evaluated for their potential usefulnes
s in diagnosis of melioidosis. These included a 19.5-kDa antigen which
was previously shown to be specific by Western blotting (immunoblotti
ng), a crude cell extract, a veronal extract, a 39.0-kDa antigen, and
an immunoaffinity-purified antigen. AH antigens were used for detectin
g antibody in sera from patients with septicemic melioidosis by indire
ct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results were compared with t
hose obtained with sera from patients with other bacterial infections
and normal sera from areas where the infection is and is not endemic.
The 19.5-kDa antigen exhibited the most satisfactory results, with 92%
sensitivity, 91% specificity, 81% positive predictive value, and 96%
negative predictive value based on a background obtained with normal s
era from the area where the infection is nonendemic. These values were
82% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 94% positive predictive value, and
87% negative predictive value based on results with normal sera from t
he area where the infection is endemic. Results from this study showed
that the 19.5-kDa antigen was potentially useful in the diagnosis of
melioidosis and deserves further investigation.