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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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Antibodies |
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| author | Karolina Sołowińska Lucyna Holec-Gąsior |
| author_facet | Karolina Sołowińska Lucyna Holec-Gąsior |
| author_sort | Karolina Sołowińska |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f00a8e89269c4e8ea3b4ab6d2e74b9c1 |
| institution | Matheson Library |
| issn | 2073-4468 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Antibodies |
| spelling | doaj-art-f00a8e89269c4e8ea3b4ab6d2e74b9c12025-06-25T13:23:02ZengMDPI AGAntibodies2073-44682025-05-011424410.3390/antib14020044IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main LimitationsKarolina Sołowińska0Lucyna Holec-Gąsior1Department of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, PolandDepartment of Biotechnology and Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Gdańsk University of Technology, 11/12 Narutowicza Str., 80-233 Gdańsk, PolandAccurate 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/14/2/44IgM<i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>diagnosistoxoplasmosisrecombinant antigen |
| spellingShingle | Karolina Sołowińska Lucyna Holec-Gąsior IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations Antibodies IgM <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> diagnosis toxoplasmosis recombinant antigen |
| title | IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations |
| title_full | IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations |
| title_fullStr | IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations |
| title_full_unstemmed | IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations |
| title_short | IgM Antibody Detection as a Diagnostic Marker for Acute Toxoplasmosis: Current Status of Studies and Main Limitations |
| title_sort | igm antibody detection as a diagnostic marker for acute toxoplasmosis current status of studies and main limitations |
| topic | IgM <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> diagnosis toxoplasmosis recombinant antigen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4468/14/2/44 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT karolinasołowinska igmantibodydetectionasadiagnosticmarkerforacutetoxoplasmosiscurrentstatusofstudiesandmainlimitations AT lucynaholecgasior igmantibodydetectionasadiagnosticmarkerforacutetoxoplasmosiscurrentstatusofstudiesandmainlimitations |