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Enzyme immunoassay for detection ofClostridium difficile toxins a and b in patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis

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Abstract

A sandwich enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) was developed to detectClostridium difficile toxins A and B in stools from patients with antibiotic associated diarrhoea and colitis. Immune serum to crudeClostridium difficile toxin and non-immune serum were coated onto polystyrene microtiter plates to act as capture antibodies; toxins A and B in human stools were detected by antibodies from rabbits immunized with purified toxins A and B. The ELISA for toxin B showed cross-reactions withClostridium bifermentans andClostridium sordellii and lacked diagnostic sensitivity in clinical samples. The ELISA for toxin A showed no cross-reactions with other clostridiae investigated and was positive in 33 % (62/189) of patients with antibiotic associated diarrhoea. This compared with 38 % (71/189) positive in the tissue culture assay forClostridium difficile cytotoxin. With a predictive value of 96 % in clinical specimens, the ELISA for toxin A constitutes a sensitive and specific tool for diagnosis ofClostridium difficile associated diarrhoea and colitis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, National Bacteriological Laboratory, S-105 21, Stockholm, Sweden

    B. Aronsson, M. Granström, R. Möllby & C. E. Nord

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Roslagstull Hospital, Karolinska Institute, S-104 01, Stockholm, Sweden

    B. Aronsson

Authors
  1. B. Aronsson
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  2. M. Granström
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  3. R. Möllby
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  4. C. E. Nord
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Aronsson, B., Granström, M., Möllby, R. et al. Enzyme immunoassay for detection ofClostridium difficile toxins a and b in patients with antibiotic-associated diarrhoea and colitis. Eur. J, Clin. Microbiol. 4, 102–107 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013572

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