IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations
Accurate dating of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection is essential for effective clinical management, particularly in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, where distinguishing acute from chronic infection informs treatment decisions. Serological detection of IgM antibodies i...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Antibodies |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/14/2/44 |
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| Summary: | Accurate dating of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> infection is essential for effective clinical management, particularly in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals, where distinguishing acute from chronic infection informs treatment decisions. Serological detection of IgM antibodies is a key tool in diagnosing recent toxoplasmosis; however, its reliability is compromised by persistent IgM responses, cross-reactivity, and assay variability. While IgM lacks sufficient specificity to serve as a standalone marker of acute infection, it remains an important component of serological panels. This review summarizes current IgM detection methods and explores advancements aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy with a focus on recombinant antigens, which have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional <i>Toxoplasma</i> lysate antigen-based immunoassays. This paper also explores alternative methods of differentiating chronic and acute toxoplasmosis and outlines key areas for future research. |
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| ISSN: | 2073-4468 |