Toxoplasmosis and cross-reactivity: an analysis of the serological response by immunoblotting

Abstract

Antibodies which react with toxoplasma antigens (natural antibodies) can be found in patients without other evidence of toxoplasma infection. The natural antibody profile of 37 sera which were Dye Test (DT) negative was investigated by Western blotting with toxoplasma antigens. These 37 sera comprised 11 which were indirect haemagglutination test positive for toxoplasma antibodies, 8 rheumatoid factor positive and 18 from patients with acute viral infections. These three groups of sera could not be distinguished from each other, or from pooled sera from patients not infected with toxoplasma, by characterising the Western blot reactions.