Use of Shigella Serology as a Marker of Immune Status.
Abstract
The diagnosis of shigellosis has frequently been hampered by difficulty in obtaining stool samples for culture. For epidemiologic studies blood samples are generally easier to obtain. Thus the use of serologic diagnosis appears more suitable than stool cultures for epidemiologic studies. In this study, 10 outbreaks of shigellosis in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were investigated in detail and both blood and stool samples were taken. Serologic response was determined by passive hemagglutination and by ELISA. Serologic response was found to be both highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of shigellosis. In the second part of the study, the presence or absence of specific antibodies against shigella at the onset of disease, were compared in cases in the outbreaks and controls from the same units. The presence of specific antibodies was a significant marker of protection against shigellosis. The specific immunoglobulin subfractions were found to be significantly associated with the presence or absence of disease. Keywords: Diarrhea, Dysentery, Epidemiology, Immunology, Bacteriology, Shigella vaccines. (aw)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1986
- Accession Number
- ADA200855
Entities
People
- Colin Block
- Dani Cohen
- Manfred S. Green
- Tsvi Rouach