Use of Avidin-Biotin-Glucose Oxidase Complex to Detect Antimalarial Antibody in Serum by Light Microscopy

Melinda LeeMalaria Research Group, U.S. Army Medical Research Unit, Institute for Medical Research, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Search for other papers by Melinda Lee in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
and
Chris LambrosMalaria Research Group, U.S. Army Medical Research Unit, Institute for Medical Research, 50588 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Search for other papers by Chris Lambros in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
View More View Less
Restricted access

An immunohistochemical assay was developed combining an avidin-biotin-glucose oxidase complex procedure (ABC-GO) with light microscopy to detect specific antibody against Plasmodium falciparum. Thin blood films were prepared from culture material of P. falciparum and fixed with acetone. Antibody was detected by successive incubations with test serum, biotinylated goat antihuman antibody, avidin-biotin-glucose oxidase complex, and glucose oxidase substrate. In the presence of reactive serum, a blue precipitate formed on the parasites and could be visually observed with a 40 × objective. Sera from patients with single infections for P. vivax or P. ovale were unreactive. No cross-reactivity was observed with sera from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, filariasis, amebiasis, schistosomiasis, dengue, scrub typhus, leptospirosis, or toxoplasmosis. The sensitivity of ABC-GO is comparable to that of the indirect fluorescent antibody test.

Save