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Evaluation of colostrum as an alternative biological sample for the diagnosis of human congenital toxoplasmosis

Overview of attention for article published in BMC Infectious Diseases, November 2015
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Title
Evaluation of colostrum as an alternative biological sample for the diagnosis of human congenital toxoplasmosis
Published in
BMC Infectious Diseases, November 2015
DOI 10.1186/s12879-015-1242-z
Pubmed ID
Authors

Ana Carolina de Morais Oliveira, Hellen Dayane Silva Borges, Fernando Reis Carvalho, Arlindo Gomes de Macêdo, Caroline Martins Mota, Angela Maria de Morais Oliveira, Fernanda Maria Santiago, Cristina Guimarães Arantes Araújo, Deise Aparecida de Oliveira Silva, Tiago Wilson Patriarca Mineo, Vânia Olivetti Steffen Abdallah, José Roberto Mineo

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular protozoan parasite able to infect a wide range of hosts, including humans. Congenital infection can cause severe damage to the fetus. Thus, it is important to detect antibodies against the parasite to confirm clinical manifestations. Considering that all immunoglobulin isotypes may be present in biological samples from newborns and their mothers, this study aimed to evaluate the ability to diagnose recent toxoplasmosis by using colostrum, as an alternative noninvasive way to obtain biological samples, as well as to determine correlation rates between antibodies from serum samples to detect IgG, IgM and IgA isotypes against T. gondii. A total of 289 puerperal women from Clinical Hospital of Federal University of Uberlândia (mean age: 24.8 years, range: 14 - 43 years) took part in this study. Serum and colostrum samples from these patients were analyzed using ELISA and immunoblotting assays for soluble antigens from T. gondii. ELISA immunoassays with serum samples showed reactivity in 47.0, 6.9 and 2.8 % of samples to anti-T. gondii IgG, IgM and IgA, respectively, in comparison with colostrum samples, which showed reactivity in 46.0, 7.9 and 2.8 % of samples to the same isotypes. Also, significant correlation rates of anti-T. gondii antibody levels between serum and colostrum samples were observed. Interestingly, reactivity to IgM and/or IgA in colostrum and/or serum confirmed clinical manifestations of congenital toxoplasmosis in three newborns. Immunoblotting assays showed that it is possible to detect IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies against various antigens of T. gondii in serum and colostrum samples. IgG antibodies in serum and colostrum samples recognized more antigenic fractions than IgM and IgA antibodies. Serum IgG detected more antigenic fractions than IgG antibodies present in the colostrum of the same patient. In contrast, specific IgA present in colostrum recognized a higher number of antigens than IgA present in serum samples of the same patient. Overall, the results show that it is important to investigate the occurrence of congenital toxoplasmosis, even at puerperal period. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that T. gondii-specific IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in serum and colostrum samples from puerperal women may be detected with a significant correlation, suggesting that colostrum may also be used as an alternative biological sample to efficiently diagnose recent human toxoplasmosis.

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Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 49 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 49 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Ph. D. Student 7 14%
Student > Bachelor 7 14%
Professor 6 12%
Student > Postgraduate 4 8%
Student > Master 3 6%
Other 8 16%
Unknown 14 29%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 8 16%
Agricultural and Biological Sciences 6 12%
Immunology and Microbiology 4 8%
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine 4 8%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 3 6%
Other 6 12%
Unknown 18 37%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 1. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 19 November 2015.
All research outputs
#20,296,405
of 22,833,393 outputs
Outputs from BMC Infectious Diseases
#6,471
of 7,682 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#235,706
of 281,503 outputs
Outputs of similar age from BMC Infectious Diseases
#159
of 168 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 22,833,393 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 7,682 research outputs from this source. They typically receive more attention than average, with a mean Attention Score of 9.6. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its peers scored the same or lower than it.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 281,503 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 168 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one is in the 1st percentile – i.e., 1% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.