Immunoblot for the detection of IgG or IgA antibodies against Campylobacter jejuni in serum

SUMMARY AND EXPLANATION OF THE TEST

It is possible to prove Campylobacter jejuni as a pathogen in 50 % of all enteritis (i. e. 30x more often than Yersinia enterocolitica). For it is possible that in more than 2 % of all enteritis a reactive arthritis can appear, Campylobacter is one of the most important pathogens of reactive arthritis.

The blot can be further used to confirm a Guillain Barré Syndrome (caused mostly by Campylobacter).

The Campylobacter species induces in humans an acute enterocolitis and in neat, sheep and pig fetal and enteral infections.

Important for humans are the species:

Campylobacter jejuni is in 3 – 7 % of all patients with acute diarrhoea or gastroenteritis provable as the only pathogen for enteritis. In humans a 48 hour prodromal period is followed by febrile enterocolitis with influenzal symptoms and watery diarrhoea, that again is followed by an excretion stage with few symptoms. In about 2 % of the persons infected with Campylobacter, reactive arthritis appears as a late complication, which is associated in 70 % of those patients with HLA-B27.

Campylobacter jejuni is able to cause, together with Epstein-Barr and Cytomegalovirus, the Guillain Barré Syndrome (acute idiopathic polyneuritis).

Analysis and Interpretation of the results

Specifity

There are 10 specific bands. Characterized are:

90 kD, HSP 60, 54 kD, 45 kD ( porine ), 31 kD, 28 kD, 27 kD, 17 kD, 15 kD, 12 kD.

Interpretation

IgA

2 of 10 bands = possibly positive

3 of 10 bands = positive

IgG

4 of 10 bands = positive

Clinical interpretation

IgA antibodies are typical for chronic infections of Campylobacter (e. g. reactive arthritis).

IgG and IgM antibodies are more typical for the Guillain Barré Syndrome.