High Seroprevalence of Encephalitozoon Species in Immunocompetent Subjects

Encephalitozoon species are important pathogens in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. However, in immunocompetent persons, little is known about Encephalitozoon infections, mainly because of the lack of reliable diagnostic tests. To improve diagnosis, three serologic techniques that use...

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Published inThe Journal of infectious diseases Vol. 175; no. 4; pp. 1020 - 1024
Main Authors Gool, Tomvan, Vetter, J. C. M., Weinmayr, B., Dam, A. Van, Derouin, F., Dankert, J.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.04.1997
University of Chicago Press
Oxford University Press
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ISSN0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI10.1086/513963

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Summary:Encephalitozoon species are important pathogens in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. However, in immunocompetent persons, little is known about Encephalitozoon infections, mainly because of the lack of reliable diagnostic tests. To improve diagnosis, three serologic techniques that use Encephalitozoon intestinalis as antigen were developed: an ELISA, an immunofluorescence technique (IFAT), and a counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) method. The serologic response against E. intestinalis was studied in sera from 300 Dutch blood donors and 276 pregnant French women. For confirmation of specificity, sera from 150 subjects with various infectious and noninfectious diseases were examined. ELISA, IFAT, and CIE were specific for microsporidia infections, and IFAT and CIE were specific for Encephalitozoon infections. High antibody titers against Encephalitozoon organisms were found in 24 (8%) of 300 Dutch blood donors and in 13 (5%) of 276 pregnant French women. The high seroprevalence against Encephalitozoon species in Dutch blood donors and French women suggests that Encephalitozoon infection is common in immunocompetent subjects.
Bibliography:Reprints or correspondence: Dr. T. van Gool, Dept. of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Present affiliation: Institut of Hygiene der Universität Graz, Austria.
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ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/513963