Humoral immune response of humans to lipooligosaccharide and outer membrane proteins of Haemophilus ducreyi.

Alfa, M J; Olson, N; Degagne, P; Plummer, F; Namaara, W; Maclean, I; Ronald, A R · J Infect Dis · 1993

other · Level V

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Abstract

The humoral immune response to purified lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and outer membrane proteins (OMP) of Haemophilus ducreyi was evaluated. Sera from chancroid-endemic (Uganda, Kenya) and -nonendemic (Canada) countries were tested by an ELISA. The response to OMPs was cross-reactive with other Haemophilus species, and elevated levels of antibody were detected in patients that did not have chancroid. The LOS component stimulated an H. ducreyi-specific immune response that was detected only in patients with chancroid. The sensitivity of the LOS ELISA was 96% (95% confidence interval, 89.9%-100%) and the specificity was 97% (95% confidence interval, 95.8%-98.2%). Thus, the anti-H. ducreyi LOS immune response is a significant diagnostic and epidemiologic indicator.

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