DETECTION IN HUMAN SERA OF IGG, IGM AND IGA TO EXCRETED SECRETED ANTIGENS FROM TOXOPLASMA-GONDII BY USE OF DOT-ELISA AND IMMUNOBLOT ASSAY/

The excreted/secreted antigens (ESA) of Toxoplasma gondii are thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis and immune escape of the parasite and the host's immunity to infection with it. In the present study, ESA from peritoneal exudates of infected mice were precipitate d with ammonium sulphate (a 40% saturated solution giving the best yie ld of antigenic components). They were then analysed by immunoblot ass ay and dot-ELISA using serum samples from 25 patients with toxoplasmos is (19 in the acute phase and six chronic). Three groups of antigens, with molecular masses of 35, 30-32 and 26 kDa, reacted strongly with I gG antibodies, and antigens from two of these groups (30-32 and 26 kDa ) also reacted with IgM and IgA.