Detection of serum antibodies against Chlamydia pneumoniae by in vitro neutralization and microimmunofluorescence assays

• Published in: Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie Vol. 284; no. 1; pp. 52 - 57
• Main Authors: DONATI, M, RUMPIANESI, F, PAVAN, G, D'APOTE, L, CEVENINI, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Urban & Fischer 01.06.1996
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Animals; Antibodies, Bacterial - blood; Antibodies, Bacterial - immunology; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Child; Chlamydia Infections - blood; Chlamydia Infections - immunology; Chlamydia Infections - microbiology; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - immunology; Chlamydophila pneumoniae - isolation & purification; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; Haplorhini; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunoglobulin G - immunology; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neutralization Tests; Human; Chlamydia pneumoniae; Chlamydiaceae; Respiratory disease; Antibody; Serology; Infection; Neutralization test; Bacteriosis; Chlamydiales; Bacteria; Chlamydiosis; Diagnosis; Detection; Immunofluorescence
• ISSN: 0934-8840
• DOI: 10.1016/S0934-8840(96)80153-8

Antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae (IOL-207) were studied by the microimmunofluorescence (MIF) assay and in vitro neutralization in serum samples from 230 healthy adults and 332 patients at risk of C. pneumoniae infection. In the MIF test, the prevalence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody was 53.9% among healthy subjects and 40.7% in the patients. An MIF antibody titre of > or = 1 : 512, consistent with acute infection by C. pneumoniae was documented in 23 out of 332 patients, and in none of the healthy adults. C. pneumoniae complement-dependent neutralizing antibody was detected in 25.8% and 31.2%, respectively of MIF-positive sera from healthy subjects and patients. The neutralizing antibody detection rate was 52.2% among the 23 patients with MIF titres of > or = 1 : 512. Complement-independent neutralization was observed in only 5 sera from healthy subjects and in 3 sera from patients. The complement-dependent neutralizing ability of sera significantly (p < 0.001) correlated with MIF titres.