Development of a Serological Test for Haemophilus ducreyi for Seroprevalence Studies

Abstract

We developed a new enzyme immunoassay (rpEIA) for use in determining the seroprevalence of chancroid. Three highly conserved outer membrane proteins from Haemophilus ducreyi strain 35000 were cloned, overexpressed, and purified from Escherichia coli for use as antigens in the rpEIA. Serum specimens from patients with and without chancroid were assayed to determine optimum sensitivity and specificity and to establish cutoff values. On the basis of these data, rpEIA was found to be both sensitive and specific when used to test a variety of serum specimens from patients with genital ulcers and urethritis and from healthy blood donors.

Checkerboard assessments of serum antibodies to oral microbiota as surrogate markers of clinical periodontal status

“…It is well‐established that the bacteria of the dental plaque, being the causative agents for the development of periodontal diseases ( 1996 World Workshop in Periodontics), elicit systemic antibody responses ( Ebersole et al 1987, Ebersole et al 1994). Serology has frequently been used as an epidemiologic tool in the study of bacterial, yeast and viral infections ( Ekman et al 1993, Elkins et al 2000, Rothenbacher et al 1999), but is, by and large, unexplored as a tool for epidemiologic studies of periodontal diseases. The aim of this short communication was to explore whether serum IgG antibodies against a panel of periodontal bacteria may provide reliable surrogate measures of clinical periodontal status in epidemiologic studies.…”

The Laboratory Diagnosis of Haemophilus ducreyi

“…Humoral immune responses have been shown for patients infected with H ducreyi. Detection of antibody production to various cell components including whole cell lysate, purified and recombinant outer membrane proteins and LOS have been reported (18)(19)(20). For all antigens evaluated, the response is often slow in developing, cross-reactive with other Haemophilus species, and may last a long time after the infection has cleared.…”

Chancroid: contemporary appraisal

“…Hemophilus ducreyi is now well recognized as a cofactor in HIV transmission, 37,38 on account of their frequent coexistence. This has fascinated investigators in to forming a detailed profile, including the characters, of this organism worldwide 2,5–10,39–44 …”

“…3). The lymph glands are tender, swollen and matted together to ultimately form unilocular fluctuant swelling 1–17 . Its spontaneous rupture may result in a single discharging sinus in the inguinal region (Fig.…”

“…Chancroid, one of the classical genito‐ulcerative diseases (GUDs), has generated considerable interest across the globe, 1–10 especially in the light of the emerging drug resistant 11–15 and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) 15,16 . Hemophilus ducreyi is its causative bacterial agent.…”