Validation of an ELISA for the diagnosis of recent Campylobacter infections in Guillain-Barré and reactive arthritis patients

Clin Microbiol Infect. 2007 Sep;13(9):915-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2007.01765.x. Epub 2007 Jul 30.

Abstract

Weeks or months following Campylobacter infection, a small proportion of infected individuals develop Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) or reactive arthritis (ReA). Stool culture for Campylobacter is often negative in these patients, and serology is therefore the method of choice for diagnosing a recent infection with Campylobacter. This study developed a capture ELISA system to detect anti-Campylobacter IgA and IgM antibodies indicative of a recent infection. The sensitivity of the assay was 82.0% in uncomplicated Campylobacter enteritis patients, 96.2% in GBS patients who were culture-positive for Campylobacter, and 93.1% in culture-positive ReA patients, with a specificity of 93.0%. The assay allows identification of Campylobacter infection in patients with post-infectious neurological and rheumatological complications.

Publication types

  • Validation Study

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis, Reactive / immunology*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / diagnosis*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Campylobacter / immunology
  • Campylobacter / isolation & purification*
  • Campylobacter Infections / diagnosis*
  • Campylobacter Infections / immunology*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Guillain-Barre Syndrome / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Prohibitins
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • PHB2 protein, human
  • Prohibitins