25 research outputs found
Toxoplasma-SPECIFIC IgG SUBCLASS ANTIBODY RESPONSE IN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID SAMPLES FROM PATIENTS WITH CEREBRAL TOXOPLASMOSIS
Detection and characterisation of circulating cysticercal antigens in human cerebrospinal fluid
With biotin labelled and unlabelled immunoglobulin fraction of anticysticercal antibodies raised in rabbits, tandem-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (T-ELISA), capture-dot immunobinding assay (C-DIA) and reverse passive haemagglutination (RPHA) tests were developed for the detection of cysticercal antigens. The sensitivity levels were respectively, 9 ng ml−1, 2 ng ml−1 and 45 ng ml−1. All three methods were of equal specificity as none of the antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis virus and Echinococcus granulosus reacted with anticysticercal IgG. Cysticercal antigens were detected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of confirmed neurocysticercosis at sensitivity levels of 91·6% by T-ELISA, 83·33% by C-DIA and 75% by RPHA and specificity levels of >93%. Western analysis of these antigens in CSF showed mainly antigens of 64–68 kDa and 24–28 kDA. By crossed immunoelectrophoresis (CIE) with an intermediate gel technique, five circulating antigens were found to be released from scolex and fluid
BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE OF COMMUNITY ACQUIRED ACUTE BACTERIAL MENINGITIS: A TEN-YEAR RETROSPECTIVE STUDY IN A TERTIARY NEUROCARE CENTRE IN SOUTH INDIA
Cryptococcal meningitis: Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic overviews
Cryptococcal meningitis has emerged as a leading cause of infectious
morbidity and mortality in patients with AIDS. Among the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive subjects, cryptococcal
meningitis is the second most common cause of opportunistic
neuro-infection. Current trends are changing due to the marked
improvement of quality and length of life produced by highly active
antiretroviral therapy (HAART). The introduction of generic HAART in
India has resulted in an increase in the number of individuals getting
treatment for HIV infection, as the cost of highly active
antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has decreased 20- fold. Cryptococcal
meningitis occurs in non-HIV patients who are immunodeficient due to
diabetes, cancer, solid organ transplants, chemotherapeutic drugs,
hematological malignancies etc and rarely in healthy individuals with
no obvious predisposing factors. Diagnosis of cryptococcal meningitis
is fairly straightforward once the diagnosis is considered in the
differential diagnosis of chronic meningitis. Treatment of a patient
with cryptococcal infection is a challenge for both the physician and
the patient, but rewarding, as many would recover with timely and
adequate antifungal therapy