Evaluation of recombinant antigens in combination and single formula for diagnosis of feline toxoplasmosis

Abstract

Cats are the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and constitute an essential source of infection to all warm blooded animals and humans. Diagnosis of T. gondii infection in cats is fundamental for proper management and control of infection in humans and animals. In the current study, we have evaluated the diagnostic performance of tachyzoite lysate antigen (TLA) and different T. gondii recombinant antigens including surface antigen 2 (SAG2), dense granule proteins 2, 6, 7, 15 (GRA2, GRA6, GRA7, GRA15) and microneme 10 protein (MIC10) in immunoglobulin G enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (IgG ELISA) using cat serum samples, with reference to latex agglutination test (LAT). Remarkably, TLA showed better performance than other recombinant antigens in IgG ELISAs as compared to LAT, with concordance and Kappa values of 94.27% and 0.93, respectively. Furthermore, to improve the reactivity of the recombinant antigens, we have developed IgG ELISAs using different combinations with these recombinant antigens. Strikingly, a combination of SAG2 and GRAs has relatively similar performance as TLA evidenced by concordance and Kappa values of 94.27% and 0.81, respectively. The developed ELISA with a combination of recombinant antigens can be used as a promising diagnostic tool for routine testing of T. gondii infection and mass screening in cats. The major advantages of this assay are the high sensitivity and specificity, lower cost, safer production and easiness of standardization in various laboratories worldwide.